Alex de Minaur entered the Australian Open with high hopes. World no. 8 wished to become the first home winner in Melbourne in 1976, but that will have to wait at least for another year! Alex faced world no. 1 Jannik Sinner in the quarter-final.
Sinner toppled de Minaur 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 in an hour and 48 minutes at Rod Laver Arena, shuttering the dreams of the home nation. De Minaur will have to find improvements to become a Major contender, having lost all five Australian Open matches versus the top-10 rivals!
The Sydney native described his loss to Sinner as another slap across the face, experiencing the first versus Novak Djokovic a couple of years ago. Alex will return to the drawing board and seek solutions to fight against Jannik and other rivals from the top, especially on the most notable scene.
Alex De Minaur says his loss to Jannik Sinner was “surreal” and admits the Italian is his worst match-up. It’s women’s semi-finals tonight on Rod Laver and the world number one ranking is up for grabs | @alexdeminaur @janniksin @AustralianOpen #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/ovlJyhsE9e
— 10 News First Melbourne (@10NewsFirstMelb) January 23, 2025
Two years ago, Alex battled against Novak at Rod Laver Arena and experienced a heavy 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 loss in two hours and six minutes. The legend served well and never faced a break point. The home favorite felt the pressure and cracked under it.
Alex gave away half of the points in his games and suffered six breaks from 12 chances offered to the most decorated player in Melbourne. Like against Sinner a day ago, de Minaur failed to impose his strokes against Djokovic.
Alex de Minaur, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The Serb controlled the pace and took charge in the shortest and most advanced rallies to seal the deal in style. Jannik was even more efficient against Alex than Novak, finishing his duel against the Aussie in an hour and 48 minutes.
The home favorite looked powerless against the defending champion and the world’s best player. Sinner denied them only break point and kept the pressure on the other side. De Minaur landed in 51% of the first serve and plagued his chances.
Alex de Minaur, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
He faced ten break points and suffered six breaks to send his rival through. Jannik tamed his strokes nicely and hit 27 winners and 19 unforced errors. Alex could not follow that pace, struggling more as the more progressed and ending his campaign in the last eight.
The Italian secured one break in the opener fo 6-3. He stepped in on the return early in the second set and brought it home in style to forge a massive advantage after an hour and 18 minutes. Sinner grabbed two breaks at the beginning of the third set.
He clinched another at 5-1 to seal the deal and move over the top.
Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
“After playing great tennis on home soil and building confidence, you feel like you have been slapped across the face following such a tough loss. The only positive thing is that it’s not the first time. I felt the same against Novak Djokovic a couple of years ago.
I will survive and keep improving. I have to sit with my team and figure out how to hurt Jannik on the court. We do not have the current solutions and must look at them. I’m back to the drawing board, like I have done my entire career,” Alex de Minaur said.
Tennis World USA