Pressure has been stalking Alex de Minaur. Fuelled by the locals’ 49-year men’s singles drought at the Australian Open. Amplified by the No 8 next to his name in brackets. Anchored by the elimination of every one of his countrymen.
Finally the pressure pounced during an uncomfortable four-set victory over the 31st-seed Francisco Cerundolo on Saturday. “This was probably the first match that I’ve played here in Australia where I didn’t feel comfortable,” the 25-year-old said. “I didn’t know what to do and I just told myself I had to go out there and compete.”
It may be the first adversity the Australian has faced here this year, but as he heads into the second week, the stakes will only rise. “A part of me knew that at some point there was going to always be a match where pressure was going to be there, the nerves were going to be there and the expectation was going to be there,” he said.
Once upon a time, De Minaur would have relied on his court coverage and return to force his opponents to beat him. Psychologically, he was the one applying the pressure, but as a top‑10 player he can no longer be passive.
Novak Djokovic, like many on the tour, has recognised De Minaur’s developing agency. There is now a weapon of a serve and an increasing propensity to approach the net. “We all know how good he’s defending,” the 24-time grand slam winner said. “But his offence has improved a lot.”
De Minaur said it feels good to be noticed. “Getting through matches like today, maybe in the past, not playing well, not feeling amazing, I would have found a way to lose,” he said.
“I build on that, we move on and hopefully bigger and better things come on for the next round.”
Ahead is a last-16 meeting on Monday with the 20-year-old American Alex Michelsen, who has already eliminated two seeds and one Australian – the wildcard James McCabe – and who defeated De Minaur less than 12 months ago.
In Mexico in February, the Australian was in good form but was shocked in straight sets by the raw Californian. Michelsen said he remembers it well, largely because it immediately followed two humbling defeats by American top-20 talents in Francis Tiafoe and Tommy Paul.
“I was like: ‘OK, I’m playing another big seed, just go out there and play as best you can and see what happens,’” he said.
The largely unheralded Michelsen produced a result that shocked the tour, winning 6-4, 6-1 for his first victory against a top-10 player. “I went out there and didn’t miss a ball an hour and a half,” he said. “I couldn’t miss. I was probably way above my level at the time.”
De Minaur would avenge that result, winning in straight sets at Roland Garros, but the American made an impression that in the past week has been enhanced.
“He’s been playing really well,” De Minaur said. “He’s going to go out there with no fear and I’m going to do my best to make it difficult for him.”
De Minaur’s time at Melbourne Park has ended at this stage for the past three years, but only this year will he enter the last 16 as favourite. Djokovic halted De Minaur’s run in 2023, winning 6-2, 6-1, 6-2. Last year, it was the unpredictable Andrey Rublev, who dispatched him with a bagel in the fifth set. In 2022, Jannik Sinner, who looms as a potential match-up in the quarter-finals this year, won in straight sets.
The Australian said back then he and the Italian – now world No 1 – were very different players. “[It was] a different version of myself, a lot younger. I had the competitive, the mental aspect, but still lacked many areas to really take it to these top guys.”
Now, De Minaur believes he does. “It’s part of my journey, right?”
