'POOR PLAYER MANAGEMENT'

When it comes to poor player management, poor decision making and anything else that resembles those two things then I think it's safe to place Alex De Minaur into those categories.
Back in September 2017 when the last Slam of the year was completed at the US Open the focus quickly turned to the Aussie Summer of Tennis, a time when all Aussie tennis players get a chance to strut their stuff in front of their home crowd.
A time to be cherished by every Aussie tennis player.
The Wild Card Playoff in December is a tournament that awards the winner a free pass, or rather a well earned pass into the first round of the Australian Open and the winner of the Mens event was of course Alex De Minaur. 
He did it rather convincingly as he only dropped two sets in four best of five sets matches and in doing so secured himself around $60,000, guaranteed, win or lose, not a bad pay day for a teenager.
Alex was by far the stand out player in the Wild Card playoff , head and shoulders above the rest. Some will argue that his training in Spain toughened him up for the long hard slog, others will tell you he's a home grown product. Each to their own.
Now here's the thing. Alex entered the Brisbane International on New Years Eve 2017 and made it all the way through to the semis and along the way he blitzed former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic in straight sets. Fair to say Alex was in form.
The young Aussie/ Spaniard quite possibly should have made it through to the final against Kyrgios as he lead by a set and 5-3 in the second set tiebreaker before finding a way to lose to American Ryan Harrison 6-4 in the third. 
All in all a great event for the young fellow and the Media in Oz went berserk.
'The new Lleyton Hewitt' some said as Alex played with a rather similar style to the arrogant Aussie himself, complete with the obligatory 'C'MON'. Wonder who taught him that......
Anyhow Brisbane was kind to Alex, kind to tennis fans in Oz as they now had a new tennis hero and kind to Lleyton Hewitt as he was gaining some long lost attention from the camera man once again. 
All in all it was a win all around for tennis Down Under, everyone was as happy as Larry, who is always happy.
Now my question is this;
Why did Alex play in Sydney the following week ???????????????????????????????????????????
Alex is young, 18, slightly built, doesn't own a big game, just a big heart and a never say die attitude. So why did he have to contest another tournament that finished just two days before the first Grand Slam of 2018 commenced particularly when his form was exceptional and perhaps a chance to go deep into the draw ?
Were they expecting him to lose early ?
Looking back, that may have been the preferred option.
Your guess is as good as mine but I will tell you also what I believe it was all about.
MISMANAGEMENT, POOR DECISION MAKING AND A LACK OF INTELLIGENCE .
Suggestion ?
Alex, enjoy your new found stardom, a few days off from your four matches in sunny Brisbane, relax, then start training for the Aussie Open. Apparently Lleyton is your new hitting partner ? Play some sets with him but above all, STAY FRESH FOR THE AUSSIE OPEN.
Here was the problem, Alex made it through to the final in Sydney and lost an epic to Medvedev 7-5 in the third. It looked gruelling.
Alex De Minaur was over played in the lead up to the Aussie Open 2018, no risk whatsoever and his effort against Berdych proved it, he was rooted after two sets. Thomas won 12 of the last 13 games as Alex served at just 150 km. Why do you think he was doing that ?????
A bit tired perhaps ??????
Anyone who knows anything about tennis will tell you that the body must mature before taking on the sort of workload that Alex consumed in the two weeks prior to the first Slam of the year. 
What he was expected to do was perhaps only something that Rafa could achieve at the same age but at 18 Rafa had won a Slam, Alex is a long way off that standard, technically and more so physically.
Lleyton Hewitt is the Australian Davis Cup Captain though not the coach of Alex De Minaur, a guy with a fancy Spanish name owns that title, so between both camps surely some intelligent decisions should have been made regarding young Alex's welfare.
Doesn't seem the case though does it ?
Ash Barty quit tennis for 18 months around the same age as Alex De Minaur is now, all due to poor management of her requirements as a young tennis professional, thank goodness she came back.
Message to 'Aussie' Alex;
'Please Alex don't go and play cricket like Ash did for a year and a half. I will manage you for a quart of what these 'Zen Masters' are currently doing. 
Blind Freddy can see that no one is really interested in how you are going, it's more about the money you are earning others and the egos you are fuelling with your talent as many are quick to 'claim' your success as their hard work.
Fair dinkum disgrace and a comedy routine all rolled into one big f... up'.
Regards Glenn