Wounded Alex de Minaur in doubt for Davis Cup following meek US Open exit in straight sets

A crestfallen Alex de Minaur has conceded he is in doubt for pending Davis Cup duty after crashing out of the US Open in New York.

As much as he tried, de Minaur was unable to disguise his despair after injury once again cruelly curtailed his grand slam dreams in a 6-3 7-5 6-2 quarter-final loss to inspired Englishman Jack Draper on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).

His movement clearly compromised, Australia’s big last hope floundered in a sea of forehand errors as a maiden major semi-final beckoned on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

A flare up to the hip injury that had sidelined the world No.10 since Wimbledon ultimately robbed de Minaur of any realistic chance of victory.

‘I wish I felt better. Let’s just put it that way. It’s tough. It’s a big opportunity. It’s a big chance,’ de Minaur said.

‘So I’m going to stick with the positives that I’m proud of myself.

‘Jack is never easy to play in the best of times, and the way he can spread the court, being a leftie and really move you around the court, it takes a toll on the body. 

‘Accumulation of matches takes a toll as well. ‘But he played well. He deserves the win. In the few chances that I had, I wasn’t able to execute.’

Chasing a spot in the semi-finals, the Aussie was stunned in straight sets by British star Jack Draper

De Minaur had beaten the 25th-ranked Draper in all three previous encounters but, just when he thought he was returning to 100 per cent fitness, the Sydneysider suffered a dispiriting setback on tennis’s biggest stage.

‘Everything was trending in the right direction,’ he said.

‘But, yeah, it’s fine. I dealt with it after Wimbledon. I’ll deal with it after here, and I’ll be back in no time.’

Next week’s Davis Cup qualifying stages in Spain may be too soon for the Australian spearhead.

‘I really don’t know. That’s the honest answer,’ de Minaur said when asked if he’d be fit for the 16-nation September 10-15 Cup qualifiers in Valencia.

‘I guess I’ll just have to wait and see how, with a couple days, how it pulls up.’