It will be Alex against Alex in Sunday’s final of the Australian Open wildcard playoff, but that’s about where the similarities end.
Alex De Minaur is the 18-year-old next big thing in Australian tennis, with three wins over top-100 players already.
Just four younger men boast higher world rankings than the lightly framed teen, who can run all day and often does.
De Minaur calls Spain home but has never drifted in his allegiances to Australia after being born in Sydney.
His opponent in the final, 24-year-old Alex Bolt, might have been lost to tennis after taking time out of the sport last year and returning to labouring work in his home town of Murray Bridge.
Granted a speculative wildcard into qualifying for this year’s Australian Open, Bolt became the lowest-ranked qualifier in a decade when he unexpectedly won through.
A maiden grand-slam appearance at his age re-lit his waning fire for the sport and, suddenly, the big-serving leftie was back.
One common thread between the two: they’re great mates.
“Every off-day this week, we’ve hit with each other,” Bolt said after winning through to the final with a straight-sets defeat of Marc Polmans.
“I’ve watched Alex play juniors through his career and he’s a great player.
“We’ve both been involved in the Davis Cup squad this year and we’re pretty tight because of that.”
Both deserve to be in the decider.
De Minaur dropped one set en route to the final, in the semi-final against Omar Jasika, before winning 18 of the last 20 games to triumph 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-0.
Bolt was given a shock this week in the first round at Melbourne Park, battling to a five-set win over unknown teenager Benard Nkomba, before straight-sets victories in the last eight and his semi-final.
He said memories of January’s qualifying triumph – and a 400-place ranking jump in 2017 – instilled a belief he would win on Sunday.
“It gives me the world of confidence, knowing that I can play at that level and win at that level,” he said.
“I’m confident I can go all the way.”
The match might take on more significance for Bolt as, given De Minaur’s elite pedigree, he is a near certainty to receive a discretionary wildcard should he lose.
The pair have met once, in Launceston a fortnight after both men had played at their debut grand slam in January at Melbourne Park.
Bolt won 3-6 6-4 7-5.
“I just got him. He’ll be looking for some revenge, I’m sure, so it’s going to be a good match,” Bolt said.