Australian tennis player Aleksander Vukic is gearing up for an exciting challenge as he faces world No.1 Jannik Sinner in the second round of Wimbledon. This highly anticipated match will take place in the early hours of Friday morning (AEST) at the iconic All England Club.
The 29-year-old from Sydney, currently ranked No.93, draws inspiration from his experience last year when he played against eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in the same round. Reflecting on that encounter, Vukic expressed his eagerness to embrace this unique opportunity, stating, “I’m obviously the underdog, but honestly it’s one of those where this doesn’t happen too often. I’m embracing the occasion; you dream of something like this.” He aims to capitalise on his previous experience, recalling how he served for the first set against Alcaraz.
In a recent interview with Nine’s Today, Vukic shared his positive mindset ahead of the match: “I feel good. I’m going to make the most of the opportunity that’s coming and take it to him; we’ll see what happens.” He is looking forward to the challenge presented by playing on the prestigious Centre Court, which he describes as “more like an arena” compared to the standard courts he usually competes on.
Vukic is one of four Australian men still in contention at Wimbledon, alongside Alex de Minaur, who faces Arthur Cazaux, and Rinky Hijikata, who will battle Ben Shelton. Jordan Thompson, despite struggling with an injury, managed to progress to the third round after a surprising victory in the previous match.
Vukic remarked on the strong performances of Australian players on grass, highlighting De Minaur as a leading contender in the tournament. He said, “Obviously Demon (de Minaur) is kind of leading the charge, a proven top-10 player, so he can go maybe all the way.” With optimism for the future of Aussie tennis, Vukic added, “For Aussie tennis, I think we’re in the best spot in 20 or 30 years.”
As he prepares to step onto Centre Court, Vukic’s enthusiasm and determination signal his readiness to take on one of the best in the world, turning what many see as an uphill battle into a moment of potential triumph.