There have long been doubts about whether Alex de Minaur has the ability to win a Grand Slam, but the past 12 months have shown that the 25-year-old is now primed to challenge at the top levels of the majors, giving the Australian a genuine shot.
As he prepares for his first-round match against Botic van de Zandschulp at the Australian Open, De Minaur will be looking to become the first Aussie to lift the Melbourne Park trophy since Mark Edmondson in 1976.
After a disappointing fourth-round exit at last year’s Australian Open, De Minaur rebounded with impressive quarter-final appearances at the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. By consistently reaching the last eight, he’s putting himself in a position where, with a bit of luck, he could go even further and possibly reach a Grand Slam final.
De Minaur may compare himself to players like Casper Ruud, who reached three Grand Slam finals (French Open 2022, 2023, and US Open 2022) without facing top-ranked players until later in the tournaments. While Ruud was defeated by legends like Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic in those finals, his path showed that reaching a major final is possible, even in this era.
Though De Minaur may not possess the raw power of some of his competitors, his mental toughness has grown, and he’s increasingly proving he can compete with the best. Seeded eighth at the Australian Open, De Minaur will avoid higher-ranked opponents until the quarter-finals, where defending champion Jannik Sinner, whom he has yet to beat (0-9), may await. Sinner, however, is dealing with the pressure of doping allegations.
In 2024, De Minaur picked up key wins over top players like Djokovic, Zverev, Medvedev, and Fritz, demonstrating he’s closing in on breaking through in a major. With Australia firmly behind him, De Minaur may well have his best chance yet to make a deep run at the 2025 Australian Open. He is the country’s strongest contender since Lleyton Hewitt’s prime.
