Alex de Minaur brings new weapons to Australian Open as stakes rise
Pressure has been stalking Alex de Minaur. Fuelled by the locals’ 49-year men’s singles drought at the Australian Open. Amplified by the No 8, next to his name in brackets. Anchored by the elimination of every one of his countrymen.
Finally the pressure pounced, during
an uncomfortable four-set victory
over the 31st-seed Francisco Cerundolo on Saturday. “This was probably the first match that I’ve played here in Australia, where I didn’t feel comfortable,” the 25-year-old said. “I didn’t know what to do, and I just told myself I had to go out there and compete.”
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Alex de Minaur finds his legs to overrun Cerundolo at Australian Open
It may be the first adversity the Australian has faced at Melbourne Park this year but, as he heads into the second week, the stakes will only rise. “A part of me knew that at some point there was going to always be a match where pressure was going to be there, and the nerves were going to be there, and the expectation was going to be there,” he said. “But I knew it was going to be a part of it, and I just told myself to to go out there and compete.”
Once upon a time, De Minaur would have relied on his court coverage and return to force his opponents to beat him. Psychologically, he was the one applying the pressure. But as a top-10 player he can no longer be passive.
Novak Djokovic, like many on the tour, has recognised De Minaur’s developing agency. There is now a “weapon” of a serve and an increasing propensity to approach the net. “We all know how good he’s defending,” the 24-time grand slam said. “But his offence has improved a lot.”
De Minaur said it feels good to be noticed. “Getting through matches like today, I think maybe in the past, not playing well, not feeling amazing, I maybe would have found a way to to lose,” he said after beating Cerundolo. “I build on that, we move on, and hopefully bigger and better things come on for the next round.”
Ahead is a round-of-16 clash on Monday with 20-year-old American Alex Michelsen, a man who has already eliminated two seeds and one Australian – wildcard James McCabe – and who defeated De Minaur less than 12 months ago.
In Mexico in February, the Australian was in good form but was shocked in straight sets by the raw Californian. Michelsen said he remembers it well, largely because it immediately followed two humbling defeats by American top-20 talents Francis Tiafoe and Tommy Paul. “I was like: ‘OK, I’m playing another big seed, just go out there and play as best you can and see what happens,’” he said.
The largely unheralded then-teenager produced a result that shocked the tour, winning 6-4, 6-1 for his first victory against a top-10 player. “I went out there and didn’t miss a ball for like, an hour and a half,” he said. “I couldn’t miss, I was probably way above my level at the time.”
The Australian would avenge that result,
winning in straight sets at Roland Garros
, but the American made an impression that in the past week has been enhanced. “He’s been playing really well,” De Minaur said. “He’s going to go out there with no fear, and I’m going to do my best to make it difficult for him.”De Minaur’s time at Melbourne Park has ended at this stage for the last three years, but only this year will he enter the last 16 as favourite. Djokovic halted De Minaur’s run in 2023,
. Last year it was unpredictable Andrey Rublev, who despatched himwith a bagel in the fifth set
. In 2022 Jannik Sinner, who looms as a potential match-up in the quarter-finals this year,won in straight sets
.The Australian said back then he and the Italian – now world No 1 – were both very different players. “[It was] a different version of myself, a lot younger. I had the competitive, the mental aspect, but still lacked many areas to really take it to these top guys.”
Now, De Minaur believes he does. “It’s part of my journey, right?”