Focus on the BIG picture.
Tuesday, Jan 21, 2025
Outside the box.
Alex de Minaur Advances to Australian Open Quarter-Finals
De Minaur becomes first Australian man in eight years to reach quarter-finals, setting up clash with Jannik Sinner.
Australian tennis player Alex de Minaur has reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the first time, marking a significant milestone in his career.
The 25-year-old achieved a straight-sets victory over American Alex Michelsen, winning 6-0, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 on Monday night at the Rod Laver Arena.
This victory positions de Minaur as the first local player since Nick Kyrgios in 2015 to make it to the tournament's last eight.
De Minaur is also the first Australian to reach four consecutive Grand Slam quarter-finals since Lleyton Hewitt, who advanced to the Australian Open final in 2005.
In the match against Michelsen, de Minaur dominated the first set, controlling play against the 20-year-old American, who appeared less experienced, having not progressed past the second round in any previous major tournament.
Michelsen had impressed earlier with victories over top-20 players such as Stefanos Tsitsipas and Karen Khachanov but was undone by 17 unforced errors in the match against de Minaur.
Despite a strong start, de Minaur faced challenges in the second set, as Michelsen capitalized on a faltering first serve from the Australian.
Michelsen led 6-5 at one point, forcing the set into a tie-break, which de Minaur clinched with a decisive ace at 5-5. In the third set, de Minaur broke Michelsen's serve to lead 4-2, ultimately securing the match despite encountering a few tense moments while serving for victory.
De Minaur’s victory sets the stage for a formidable quarter-final duel against world No.1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner.
The path ahead remains daunting, as de Minaur has yet to win a set against Sinner in their previous encounters.
Despite this, de Minaur expressed determination and optimism about challenging Sinner in his home tournament.
De Minaur’s run in this year's Australian Open not only boosts his individual aspirations but also fuels hopes of ending a 49-year drought for local men at the tournament.
The last Australian man to win the Australian Open was Mark Edmondson in 1976.
The 25-year-old achieved a straight-sets victory over American Alex Michelsen, winning 6-0, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 on Monday night at the Rod Laver Arena.
This victory positions de Minaur as the first local player since Nick Kyrgios in 2015 to make it to the tournament's last eight.
De Minaur is also the first Australian to reach four consecutive Grand Slam quarter-finals since Lleyton Hewitt, who advanced to the Australian Open final in 2005.
In the match against Michelsen, de Minaur dominated the first set, controlling play against the 20-year-old American, who appeared less experienced, having not progressed past the second round in any previous major tournament.
Michelsen had impressed earlier with victories over top-20 players such as Stefanos Tsitsipas and Karen Khachanov but was undone by 17 unforced errors in the match against de Minaur.
Despite a strong start, de Minaur faced challenges in the second set, as Michelsen capitalized on a faltering first serve from the Australian.
Michelsen led 6-5 at one point, forcing the set into a tie-break, which de Minaur clinched with a decisive ace at 5-5. In the third set, de Minaur broke Michelsen's serve to lead 4-2, ultimately securing the match despite encountering a few tense moments while serving for victory.
De Minaur’s victory sets the stage for a formidable quarter-final duel against world No.1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner.
The path ahead remains daunting, as de Minaur has yet to win a set against Sinner in their previous encounters.
Despite this, de Minaur expressed determination and optimism about challenging Sinner in his home tournament.
De Minaur’s run in this year's Australian Open not only boosts his individual aspirations but also fuels hopes of ending a 49-year drought for local men at the tournament.
The last Australian man to win the Australian Open was Mark Edmondson in 1976.
