Aussie Star Alex De Minaur Eyes Historic Australian Open Victory
Rising tennis star Alex de Minaur is on the brink of breaking nearly half a century of drought for Australian men at the Australian Open as he embarks on his campaign at Melbourne Park this week. Now regarded as the No. 8 seed, de Minaur expressed confidence about his chances, emphasizing the significance of this year’s tournament.
While he keeps his focus on his first round matchup against Botic van de Zandschulp, the thought of potentially becoming the first Australian man to win the Australian Open since Mark Edmondson back in 1976 looms large. “Every time I come here to the Australian Open, I feel like I’m a…better version of what I was the year before,” de Minaur stated. Having observed considerable growth in his game, he relates to the pressures and possibilities this prestigious tournament presents.
Over the past three years, de Minaur has seen his campaigns thwarted at the Round of 16 by the likes of defending champion Jannik Sinner and the formidable Novak Djokovic. Yet, he enters this tournament with newfound optimism after enjoying the most consistent year of his career. His compatriots, including Alexei Popyrin and Jordan Thompson, have rallied around him, strengthening his chances. Popyrin, who recently defeated Djokovic at the US Open, believes de Minaur is primed for success after his standout performances at the United Cup.
“Demon is coming off the back of his best year last year, his most consistent year,” said Popyrin. “He had the tricky part in the middle of last year being injured…to see him play so well, to see the energy he brings is incredible.” This sentiment is echoed by fellow Australian players, who have noted not only de Minaur's skills but also his determination and professionalism on the court.
Thompson highlighted de Minaur's impressive track record over the past year, praising his movement and speed. “Guys in the locker room know it’s going to take a big effort for them to beat him.” De Minaur's reputation as one of the toughest competitors has been well established among his peers and is expected to serve him well during this tournament.
Significantly, the Australian Open this year marks the first time since 2000 when multiple Australians—de Minaur, Popyrin, and Thompson—are seeded, raising hopes for local fans. “I think he can definitely do some damage,” Thompson remarked, underlining de Minaur’s capacity to thrive under competitive pressure.
Former Australian star Nick Kyrgios, who once mentored de Minaur, added to the chorus of support, acknowledging de Minaur's growth as Australia’s leading player. Kyrgios recounted their early encounters, stating, “To see how well he’s kind of taken it upon himself to be our No. 1 player for the last three, four years, he’s grown.” He believes de Minaur can be considered a serious contender not only at the Australian Open but at any grand slam.
This unique position of responsibility has not gone unnoticed by de Minaur, who maintains focus amid the increased scrutiny. “Over the years, of course, there’s…a little bit more chatter or more hype behind me,” he shared. “But my job is to walk on the court and do my best to win matches, nothing really changes.”
His training days leading up to the Open included practice with top players like Andrey Rublev and exhibitions against Carlos Alcaraz, showcasing his commitment to improving and adapting his game. His concentration is clear as he prepares for the challenges of the Open, “I’m going to do my best to hopefully play and win lots of matches (and) do Australia proud,” he stated.
With nine ATP Tour titles under his belt and as the world No. 8, de Minaur’s rise symbolizes the resurgence of Australian tennis, previously sparked by the success of Ash Barty. Observing the current crop of young talent coming up, de Minaur sees himself as part of something larger. “We’ve got close to 10 guys in the top 100...a force to be reckoned with,” he declared positively.
Adding to this point, he mentioned young and promising players like Emerson Jones and Maya Joint, who are stepping up and continuing Australia’s rich tennis tradition. De Minaur remains hopeful about his performance this year, buoyed by the support of home crowd and the momentum built from previous achievements.
With the opening round of the tournament right around the corner, all eyes will be on de Minaur as he attempts to carve his name deep within the annals of Australian tennis history. Time will tell whether he can bring the coveted title back home.