Alex de Minaur cops another setback after Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray news rocks tennis world
Alex de Minaur’s clay-court campaign took another hit as he fell to American Tommy Paul in the Round of 16 at the Italian Open — a result that comes amid seismic shifts in the tennis world, with Novak Djokovic parting ways with assistant coach Andy Murray.
De Minaur entered the Rome Masters with a strong opportunity to push deep, especially after Taylor Fritz’s early exit on his side of the draw. However, despite holding a perfect 5–0 record against Paul, the Aussie faltered, losing in straight sets.
The 25-year-old will be disappointed with the result, particularly as it came at a time when he could have closed the ranking gap with Djokovic ahead of the French Open. His loss is further compounded by a lackluster performance: 49 unforced errors and a drop in momentum after winning just four of the final 12 games.
This marks another defeat to a top-tier opponent for de Minaur, who has now lost to No.10 Lorenzo Musetti in Madrid and No.11 Paul in Rome within two weeks. So far in 2025, his only top-10 victory has come against Daniil Medvedev in Monte Carlo.
Despite the setback, de Minaur is still expected to stay within the ATP top 10 as several lower-ranked contenders also exited early in Rome. With no entry into the Hamburg Open, he may now opt to rest and prepare for Roland Garros, which begins May 25. He’s projected to be seeded No.9 or 10 in Paris.
Djokovic and Murray End Brief Coaching Partnership
In other major tennis news, Novak Djokovic has split with assistant coach Andy Murray just 11 days before the French Open. The partnership, which began ahead of the 2025 Australian Open, had generated considerable buzz given the duo’s historic rivalry.
The split follows Djokovic’s recent struggles, including early exits in four of his last five tournaments. Murray confirmed the end of their collaboration with a statement:
“Thanks to Novak for the unbelievable opportunity to work together and thanks to his team for all their hard work over the past six months. I wish Novak all the best for the rest of the season.”
Djokovic also shared his gratitude in a farewell message on social media:
“Thank you, Coach Andy, for all the hard work, fun, and support on and off the court over the last six months. I really enjoyed deepening our friendship.”
While the pair’s partnership was short-lived, it captured fan interest during the Australian Open, where Murray’s courtside presence and guidance stood out. With Roland Garros approaching, Djokovic will now head into the clay-court major without Murray by his side.
