Alex de Minaur joined countryman Nick Kyrgios in exiting the Japan Open on Thursday night but the young gun will on Monday assume the mantle of Australia’s highest-ranked player for the first time in his career.
The gutsy de Minaur again showed his fighting spirit against fellow rising star Stefanos Tsitsipas in Tokyo, saving two match points to force a third set before the Greek star prevailed 6-3 5-7 6-1.
Despite the loss, the Sydney-sider will replace Kyrgios as Australian No.1 next week after the Canberran suffered a 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-1) loss to Richard Gasquet.
Kyrgios blasted 22 aces and did not drop a service game against Gasquet but failed to lift in either tiebreaker against the Frenchman to bow out in straight sets.
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The 23-year-old is currently 27th on the ATP world rankings, eight spots higher than John Millman and 11 clear of De Minaur.
But Kyrgios, who made the final of the China Open last season, is projected to fall to No.38 after failing to defend the points he earned in Beijing in 2017.
De Minaur, 19, is expected to rise five spots to No.33 on Monday, ending Kyrgios’ reign as Australia’s highest ranked male.
Millman is predicted to rise one spot to 34th, relegating Kyrgios, who has held the top spot since taking over from Bernard Tomic in March, 2016, to third among the Aussie contingent.
