World No. 2 Rafael Nadal will focus on getting fit for the Australian Open after pulling out of the Brisbane International with a thigh strain.
The 32-year-old Spaniard will nurse the "dangerous" injury he picked up playing in Abu Dhabi in late December until he possibly lines up next week in the hit-and-giggle FAST4 Showdown in Sydney next week.
"I still wanted to play," Nadal told reporters on Wednesday.
"But all the recommendations from the doctors ... (were if) I play here, there is a risk, important risk to don't have the chance to play Melbourne.
"It's unfortunate," de Minaur said of the Nadal withdrawal.
The 19-year-old de Minaur dispatched countryman Jordan Thompson 6-4 6-2 on Wednesday.
Nadal, a 17-time grand slam winner, was given a first-round bye in Brisbane.
While he had a restricted 2018, he still won five tournaments including a record-extending 11th French Open title and made the Wimbledon and US Open semis.
But he was forced to pull out of the Australian and US Open through injury.