18 June 2018 | Tennis Australia

Australian teenager Alex de Minaur says the confidence is flowing through him as he waits to find out if he will make it into the main draw at Wimbledon.

The 19-year-old from Sydney moved up to No.78 in the world rankings after winning his first ATP Challenger title in Nottingham on Sunday.

His surge into the top 100 has come too late for direct entry into Wimbledon, but he is two spots outside a place should others withdraw, and there remains the possibility of a wildcard.

REPORT: De Minaur wins Nottingham Open title

“I’m hoping for a couple of pull-outs or a friendly wildcard,” De Minaur told the RSN Breakfast Club.

“That would come in handy. I’ve just got to wait until Tuesday, when they announce the wildcards, and hopefully I get in.”

De Minaur beat Britain’s Dan Evans 7-6(4) 7-5 in Nottingham to finally get his hands on a trophy at the ATP Challenger level.

https://twitter.com/ATPChallenger/status/1008350345846841344

“It’s been a long time brewing,” he added. “There were a couple of finals where I wasn’t able to go on to the final step. I’m happy I was able to finally get past that.”

He began the year ranked No.208 but ATP semifinals and finals in Brisbane and Sydney respectively, followed by Challenger finals in Alicante and Surbiton and Sunday’s title win, have seen De Minaur rocket up the standings.

With Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, a four-time Queen’s Club and 2002 Wimbledon champion, on hand to offer advice, the teenager is relishing this stage of the tennis year.

“At the moment I’m really happy with my level on court,” said De Minaur.

“I’m really confident and every time I step out on court I’m playing some great tennis. It’s great for me, especially on this surface. I really enjoy the grass.

“Before I ever set foot on the grass I decided that I was going to enjoy it and it was going to be my favourite surface, so I think I psyched myself to love it.

“From then on it’s been a surface I look forward to each year, and the grass is probably my favourite season of the year.”