Alex Michelsen awaits in the last 16 as Alex de Minaur looks to break his streak of defeats at this stage in Melbourne.
Pressure has been looming over de Minaur, driven by the 49-year drought for an Australian men’s singles champion at the Australian Open. With the No. 8 seed next to his name and the elimination of his fellow Australians, the spotlight has intensified. This pressure finally took hold during his hard-fought four-set win over 31st seed Francisco Cerundolo on Saturday. “This was probably the first match I’ve played in Australia where I didn’t feel comfortable,” de Minaur admitted. “I didn’t know what to do, so I just told myself to go out there and compete.”
As de Minaur enters the second week of the tournament, he knows the stakes will only rise. “I knew there would be a match where the pressure, nerves, and expectations would all be there,” he said. In the past, de Minaur relied on his defense and return game to force his opponents to beat him. However, as a top-10 player, he knows he can no longer be passive.
Novak Djokovic, among others, has taken notice of de Minaur’s development, particularly his improved serve and increased willingness to approach the net. “We all know how great he is defensively,” Djokovic said, “but his offense has improved a lot.”
De Minaur appreciates the recognition. “Getting through matches like today, maybe in the past I would’ve found a way to lose,” he said. “I build on that, move forward, and hope for bigger and better things in the next round.”
Next up is a last-16 clash with 20-year-old American Alex Michelsen, who has already knocked out two seeds and one Australian, including James McCabe. Michelsen upset de Minaur last year in Mexico but faces a much more determined opponent this time around.
De Minaur, who has exited at this stage for the past three years, now hopes to turn the tide and advance deeper into the tournament
