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Alex de Minaur says father figure Adolfo Gutierrez has been instrumental in his rise to the top 10, and in becoming a genuine contender at the Australian Open.
His Davis Cup captain and idol Lleyton Hewitt is receiving plenty of plaudits for Alex de Minaur's stunning transformation from grand slam lightweight to Australian Open title contender.
But the in-form baseliner says his career-long coach Adolfo Gutierrez deserves much credit, too.
De Minaur attributes the evolution of his attacking game and new-found variety as key to his head-turning early-season victories over Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev.
And his general rise to become a genuine grand slam force.
But it hasn't happened overnight, with the Sydney-born, Spain-based 24-year-old conceding steady improvements through his career have helped him crash the world's top 10 for the first time.
"Adolfo, he's been like my second father, like a father figure," de Minaur said ahead of his second-round clash with Italian Matteo Arnaldi on Wednesday.
"We've been together now for 16 years."
"He took me in as a young kid to the point where my family would obviously struggle to pay him at times. He took me in. He would do countless hours with me."
De Minaur said it meant the world to him that he and Gutierrez had "been able to accomplish all this together".
"We've gone from me being a little brat at eight years old, nine years old, to playing juniors, to playing futures, staying in hostels, motels all around Europe, to challengers, 250s, to now making it to 10 in the world," he said.
"I mean, it's pretty surreal. I could have never done it without him. He deserves all the credit in the world.
"He doesn't like the spotlight, but he deserves it all. I do owe it all to him."
If de Minaur maintains his unbeaten run this year with victory over the 41st-ranked Arnaldi, the 10th seed will play Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli or Russian world No.65 for a spot in the last 16 for a third straight Open.
De Minaur is among five Australians in second-round action on Wednesday, with Alexei Popyrin's blockbuster with Djokovic headlining the night session on Rod Laver Arena.
Chris O'Connell takes on American 16th seed Ben Shelton, a quarter-finalist in Melbourne last year before making the semis at the US Open.
Jordan Thompson also has a tough mission against Greek seventh seed and last year's runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Qualifier and world No.1 doubles star Storm Hunter is the only Australian woman chasing a third-round berth on day four, up against Laura Siegemund.
Hunter is most familiar with Siegemund's game.
The 33-year-old is the world's No.5-ranked doubles player and teamed with Alexander Zverev to beat Hunter and Matt Ebden in the deciding rubber of Australia's United Cup semi-final loss to Germany in Sydney two weeks ago.
AUSSIES IN ACTION ON DAY FOUR OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN (PREFIX DENOTES SEEDING):
Men's singles, second round
Alexei Popyrin v 1-Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Jordan Thompson v 7-Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)
Chris O'Connell v 16-Ben Shelton (USA)
10-Alex de Minaur v Matteo Arnaldi (ITA)
Women's singles, second round
Storm Hunter v Laura Siegemund (GER)
