Alex de Minaur is gearing up for his 10th meeting with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. The Australian has yet to beat Sinner in their previous nine encounters, with the only exception being a walkover in 2023 due to scheduling issues. While De Minaur’s record against the Italian is one of the most lopsided among current players, he remains undeterred.
De Minaur acknowledged Sinner’s exceptional skill, saying, “Ultimately Jannik is a hell of a player. It’s not really about being a bad matchup, it’s that he’s a pretty good player, right? So he’s a bad matchup for a lot of players out there on tour.” Despite this, the Australian believes he has a chance to turn the tide. He recalled their close encounter in the Rotterdam final last year, where he lost in two tight sets. De Minaur had broken Sinner twice, and the match was decided by a pivotal 23-minute game, which De Minaur narrowly failed to hold. “That one was probably, out of the last matches we have played, the only one that I can really take a lot out of because I was physically at 100%, and I think that was quite a good battle with opportunities here and there,” De Minaur said. “And, hey, we’ve never played quarter-finals of a slam, so that’s a new one.”
De Minaur has been in outstanding physical condition throughout the tournament, showing great stamina despite being tested in the third and fourth rounds. His fitness has been a key factor in his progression, helping him to overcome challenging matches. In contrast, Sinner has faced some physical difficulties. During his fourth-round match against Holger Rune, the Italian admitted to feeling unwell, describing moments when he felt dizzy and struggled with the heat and humidity. He also mentioned taking some medication to help him through the match.
Sinner is aware that his past success against De Minaur will not guarantee a win. “Every match is different,” he said. “Playing against him here in Australia, it’s for sure different.” The defending champion is determined not to rely on history alone, understanding that each match presents new challenges.
One area where De Minaur has made significant strides is his serve. The Australian has added about 15km/h to both his first and second serves over the past few years, with Novak Djokovic describing it as a “weapon” earlier in the tournament. De Minaur has been using his serve variety to keep opponents guessing, alternating between powerful serves and more controlled shots. However, his first serve percentage has been lower than expected in Melbourne, dipping below 50% in the past two rounds. De Minaur admitted that his serve had “decided to go away on a little vacay” during those matches but expressed confidence that it would return to form.
De Minaur’s run to the quarter-finals marks a significant achievement, as he is the first Australian man to reach this stage in Melbourne since Nick Kyrgios in 2015. His previous three Australian Open campaigns ended in the round of 16, but he has already surpassed those results this year. Having already upended history by making it to the quarter-finals, De Minaur is now focused on making history again by overcoming Sinner, a player who has been a nemesis for him in the past. “You’ve got to play the match on face value and forget about everything that’s happened in the past,” he said.
