Above the din on Court Suzanne Lenglen during his duel with Daniil Medvedev, Alex de Minaur could hear one cheerleader in particular - and he swears it was the voice that helped him pull off a “miracle” at Roland Garros. The young ‘superfan’, a 14-year-old Parisian local called Paul, has become the Australian’s lucky mascot on his breakthrough run to the quarter-finals of the French Open.
It’s a distinctive voice, so it’s great to see.” Asked if Paul would be invited to the quarter-final, de Minaur beamed: “Oh, 100 per cent. He’s managed a miracle — might have to get him on tour week in, week out. “He’ll be chilling with me tomorrow in my practice day, and of course he’ll be there for the very next match.” Paul has become such a celebrity, he even found himself interviewed by film crews after the match.