De Minaur Advances at Canadian Open as Speed Debate Continues on ATP Tour
Alex de Minaur continues his quest for the semifinals at the National Bank Open in Toronto after defeating competition previously touted for their exceptional speed. This comes after a recent final loss for Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the Washington open, where the debate surrounding the fastest players on the ATP tour resurfaced.
Davidovich Fokina, despite falling to De Minaur 6-4, 6-2 in the Washington Open final on August 6th, has consistently been considered among the quickest players on tour. Former Wimbledon quarterfinalist chris Eubanks publicly endorsed this assessment, describing Davidovich Fokina as “lightning” on X (formerly Twitter).Eubanks’ post highlighted a frequently overlooked aspect of the Spaniard’s game.
The discussion initially stemmed from De Minaur’s own claims of being among the fastest on the ATP Tour, prompting comparisons to other players known for their agility. Alongside Davidovich Fokina and De Minaur, Carlos Alcaraz, Corentin Moutet, and the historically swift Gaël Monfils have all been mentioned in conversations about tour speed.
Currently, only De Minaur remains in contention at the Canadian Open, having secured a win against Emilio Nava in the Round of 32 on august 9th. He is now set to face Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals on August 11th at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto. The tournament, offering $7,975,480 in prize money, provides a prominent stage for De Minaur to demonstrate his speed and perhaps solidify his claim as one of the tour’s fastest.
The ongoing conversation about speed on the ATP Tour highlights the increasing importance of athleticism in modern tennis, alongside power and tactical prowess. While objective speed measurements are rare, player observations and match analysis continue to fuel the debate.
