Alex de Minaur could hand Novak Djokovic a ranking blow as winning run with new racket continues
Alex de Minaur, the 26-year-old Australian tennis star, is poised to challenge Novak Djokovic’s No. 6 position in the ATP rankings, fueled by an impressive winning streak with his new Wilson Ultra v5 racket. As reported by Tennis365 on August 3, 2025, De Minaur’s unbeaten run since switching to the racket last month has propelled him to No. 8 in the live ATP rankings, closing the gap with Djokovic, who sits at 4,130 points compared to De Minaur’s 3,335. A deep run at the 2025 National Bank Open in Toronto, where De Minaur reached the quarterfinals with a thrilling 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Frances Tiafoe on August 2, could see him overtake Djokovic and Ben Shelton (No. 7, 3,520 points) if he claims the title.
De Minaur’s recent success includes his 10th ATP title at the ATP 500 Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C., where he staged a comeback to defeat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(3), saving three championship points. This victory, his second ATP 500 title of 2025 after Acapulco, marked him as the second Australian man in the Open Era to reach 212 hard-court wins, tying Patrick Rafter and trailing only Lleyton Hewitt (372), per Tennis365. In Toronto, De Minaur’s resilience shone against Tiafoe, overcoming windy conditions and a late deficit to win in three sets, as he noted, “I battled him, myself, and the conditions to sneak away with a win.”
The new Wilson Ultra v5, adopted by De Minaur and other top players like Iga Świątek, has enhanced his aggressive baseline game, contributing to his 30-12 season record and top-10 return after Wimbledon. Djokovic, absent from Toronto due to a planned return at the Cincinnati Open (August 7-18), faces pressure to defend points to maintain his ranking. De Minaur’s lack of points to defend from 2024, when a hip injury forced him to miss Toronto, Cincinnati, and Shanghai, gives him a strategic advantage, as he told ATP Tour: “I’m excited for the opportunity to gain serious points and build momentum.”
A Toronto title would net De Minaur 1,000 points, potentially pushing him to No. 6 or higher, especially if Shelton falters. Djokovic, with 25-8 in 2025 and a Wimbledon quarterfinal loss to De Minaur (1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4), remains a formidable force but risks slipping if De Minaur sustains his form. As De Minaur prepares to face David Goffin or Buyunchaokete in Toronto’s quarterfinals, his racket switch and hard-court prowess signal a serious threat to Djokovic’s ranking reign.
