Alex de Minaur’s Bold US Open 2025 Prediction: “Not Carlos or Jannik”
**Alex de Minaur**, the No. 8 seed and world No. 6, sent shockwaves through the tennis world with a bold prediction for the **US Open 2025**, stating in an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, “There will be a Grand Slam winner that’s not Carlos or Jannik” (EssentiallySports, August 30, 2025). This statement, made before his third-round match, challenges the dominance of **Carlos Alcaraz** (No. 2) and **Jannik Sinner** (No. 1), who have won seven of the last eight Grand Slams, including Sinner’s 2024 US Open title and Alcaraz’s 2025 French Open crown. As de Minaur prepares to face **Novak Djokovic** in the fourth round on August 31, 2025, his prediction has sparked debate, especially given his favorable draw and strong form. Here’s a detailed look at his claim, the context, and how fans in the UK, USA, Australia, and Nigeria can follow the US Open, as of 5:53 PM WAT, Saturday, August 30, 2025.
The Prediction: Challenging Alcaraz and Sinner
In an interview with EssentiallySports’ Nate Francis, de Minaur, known as “The Demon,” reflected on the 2025 season’s dominance by Alcaraz (French Open) and Sinner (Australian Open, Wimbledon) but asserted, “There will be a Grand Slam winner that’s not Carlos or Jannik” (EssentiallySports, August 30, 2025). This bold claim, made with “determined resolve,” suggests a new champion will emerge at Flushing Meadows, potentially himself, **Novak Djokovic**, **Alexander Zverev**, or another contender like **Taylor Fritz** or **Andrey Rublev** (EssentiallySports,). De Minaur’s confidence stems from his career-best season, including a Washington title and a No. 6 ranking, and a draw cleared of top-50 opponents until the quarterfinals after upsets like **Stefanos Tsitsipas**’s loss to **Daniel Altmaier** (tennishead.net,).
De Minaur didn’t explicitly name himself as the winner but emphasized his intent to seize the opportunity, saying, “I’ll do my best. You can trust that” (EssentiallySports,). His prediction challenges the narrative that Sinner, the defending champion, or Alcaraz, who won Cincinnati, are inevitable finalists, despite their head-to-head dominance over him (Sinner 10-0, Alcaraz 4-0) (tennistonic.com,). On X, fans reacted strongly, with @TheTennisLetter tweeting, “De Minaur’s calling his shot! Not Sinner or Alcaraz? That’s spicy 🌶️” (August 30, 2025).
De Minaur’s US Open Campaign and Draw Advantage
De Minaur has been flawless in New York, reaching the fourth round without dropping a set. He defeated **Christopher O’Connell** (6-3, 6-4, 6-4), **Shintaro Mochizuki** (6-2, 6-4, 6-2), and **Otto Virtanen** (6-3, 6-4, 6-2), showcasing his speed and defense with only 23 unforced errors against Mochizuki’s 50 (usopen.org,). His draw opened up significantly after Tsitsipas, **Karen Khachanov**, and **Francisco Cerundolo** fell, leaving him to face Djokovic instead of Altmaier as initially projected, a tougher but high-profile challenge (The Guardian,). A win could set up a quarterfinal against Zverev or Rublev, with a potential semifinal against Sinner (tennishead.net,).
His 26-8 hard-court record in 2025, including a Washington title, and his status as the ATP Tour’s hard-court wins leader (OptaAce, August 26, 2025) fuel his confidence. De Minaur’s mindset, balancing intense focus with off-court relaxation, was evident when he told EssentiallySports, “When I’m at the courts, all eyes are on tennis… When I’m off the court, I like to be a normal human being” (EssentiallySports,). He also praised rising star **Jakub Menšík** as an underrated talent, hinting at his belief in emerging players breaking through (EssentiallySports,).
## Context: Alcaraz, Sinner, and Djokovic’s Challenges
De Minaur’s prediction gains intrigue amid concerns for Alcaraz and Sinner. Alcaraz sparked worry after clutching his wrist in a practice session on August 28, though he downplayed it and faces **Li Tu** in the third round (au.news.yahoo.com,). Sinner, recovering from a hip issue, faces **Alexei Popyrin** but remains a favorite (si.com,). Djokovic, de Minaur’s next opponent, has battled hip, back, and toe issues, requiring a medical timeout against **Cameron Norrie** (ESPN, August 29, 2025). Djokovic’s defiant message—“I am as fresh as ever” (au.news.yahoo.com,)—sets up a tense fourth-round clash, with their 2-1 head-to-head (de Minaur’s 2024 United Cup win) adding spice (tennishead.net,).
De Minaur’s prediction also aligns with his broader view that the field is “more open than what the narrative suggests,” pointing to upsets like **Ben Shelton**’s retirement against **Adrian Mannarino** and Tsitsipas’s exit as evidence (EssentiallySports,). His own history—quarterfinals at the last three Slams—supports his belief in a breakthrough (Wikipedia,).
Fan and Media Reactions
The tennis community is abuzz, with X posts amplifying the frenzy. @josemorgado tweeted, “De Minaur saying no Sinner or Alcaraz? That’s a massive call. Is he backing himself or someone like Zverev?” (August 30, 2025). Media outlets like tennishead.net noted, “De Minaur’s draw is a golden opportunity, and this prediction shows he’s ready to pounce” (August 29, 2025). Some fans speculated about a Djokovic resurgence, with @DjokerFan writing, “If not Carlos or Jannik, it’s gotta be Novak. Alex knows it” (). Others backed de Minaur himself, citing his speed and consistency.
