"Alex de Minaur went into his quarter-final with Jannik Sinner at the 2025 Australian Open hopeful that he could make life difficult for the defending champion. Not only did that not happen, but the manner of his one-sided defeat left him wondering if he really had the game to trouble the top players. Fast forward a year and the Australian again finds himself in the last eight, again facing one of the sport's superstars, this time Carlos Alcaraz."
"But there is a lightness about him this year, a realisation that if he plays the way he wants to play more aggressively and it doesn't work, it's not a mistake. The epiphany all tennis players know this but it tends to take them a long time to vocalise it that focusing on results alone is not healthy has lifted his spirits and he seems to be walking taller than his 6ft-frame."
Alex de Minaur suffered a heavy quarter-final defeat to Jannik Sinner at the 2025 Australian Open and questioned his ability to trouble top players. One year later he reached the last eight again, this time facing Carlos Alcaraz, with Alcaraz leading their head-to-head 5-0. De Minaur showed improved form after a slightly longer off-season, Christmas in Spain, and two United Cup wins, dropping only one set en route to the quarters. A mindset shift toward playing more aggressively and valuing process over pure results has lifted his confidence. Statistical serving strength and upcoming hot conditions add context to his prospects.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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