Source : ABC NEWS
Alex de Minaur could not help but feel the weight of the moment as he took in the 15,000-strong crowd all on their feet cheering his first home grand slam quarterfinal berth.
In defeating rising American star Alex Michelsen in straight sets 6-0, 7-6(7-5), 6-3, de Minaur has become the first Australian male to make the quarterfinals of the Australian Open since Nick Kyrgios in 2015.
In his last match, he told the crowd his “legs are back” after struggling with injury in what was a breakout year in 2024.
On Monday night under the bright lights of Rod Laver Arena, he proved it.
Alex de Minaur was tested in the second set by Alex Michelsen. (Photo by Darrian Traynor: Getty Images)
The 25-year-old Australian has been in the final eight for the US Open, French Open and Wimbledon but has never been able to crack it at the Australian Open, having been knocked out in the fourth round the past three years. That was until Monday night.
It would be easy to be overcome by the moment — he’s wanted a deep run at a home grand slam for a long time — but he’s playing more confidently and with more composure than ever.
“My whole career has been day by day,” he said on court post-win.
“It hasn’t been success overnight.”
The world number eight is the sixth Australian to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open since the grand slam moved to Melbourne Park in 1988.
Loading Twitter content
Against Michelsen, de Minaur showed a growing confidence in his ability as he moved around the court, fired off aces and kept changing his shots to keep his opponent on his toes.
Yet while it was a straight-sets win, de Minaur was challenged by the 20-year-old American.
Lleyton Hewitt said it was two different Michelsens he played against after cruising in the first set 6-0 but then having to fight in a tie-break in the second.
“Michelsen, it’s been two different players out here tonight. The end of that second set compared to how he came out at the start of the match, completely different,” Hewitt said on Nine’s broadcast.
“So Alex did really well to fight him off there in the end (of the second set in the tie-break) … Alex came out with a fantastic mindset tonight, (and he’s) trying to keep Michelsen off balance and (has) used his redirection so well.”
De Minaur is playing at a high level, but he will need to maintain it against world number one Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals.
De Minaur has never beaten Sinner in their past nine meetings.
Sinner came into the tournament having not dropped a set since October last year, but was pushed to four sets against both Rune and Australian Tristan Schoolkate in the second round.
De Minaur, meanwhile, has won three of his four matches this tournament in straight sets, dropping just one to Francisco Cerundolo in the third round.
Sinner overcame sickness and tremors in his fourth-round meeting with Holger Rune on Monday, a match that de Minaur observed.
“It was an interesting one, that’s for sure,” de Minaur said of Sinner’s match, where the Italian had a medical timeout that lasted almost 12 minutes, followed by a medical timeout for Rune.
“(But) look, I’m looking forward to it (playing him on Wednesday). Obviously, it’s going to be an incredible, tough match. I’m going to have to do something that I haven’t done before. But why not start here?”
While there is plenty of work ahead for de Minaur, the young Australian can soak in the win and personal milestone he’s long been after.
“It means the world. I mean, I love you guys. So much,” he addressed the crowd, his voice rich with emotion.
“There’s nothing I want to do more than play well here in front of you guys here in Australia. So I am glad I finally made it to the quarterfinals here. Let’s go for bigger and better things. Come on.”
