Alex de Minaur’s heroics at the 2025 Laver Cup weren’t just about finesse and fire—they came with a literal scar. In a moment straight out of an action flick, the Australian star reflexively blocked a screaming Holger Rune groundstroke with his racket frame during Saturday’s doubles clash, leaving a cut on his left ear in the process. The incident forced a quick medical timeout, but de Minaur, patched up and determined, powered through to help Team World clinch a crucial 6-3, 6-4 win over Rune and Casper Ruud. The image of his taped ear—swollen yet resolute—has gone viral, symbolizing the Aussie grit that propelled Team World to a commanding 9-3 lead heading into Sunday’s finale.
The Incident: A Reflexive Block Turns Painful
It happened late in the first set of the nightcap doubles at San Francisco’s Chase Center, with de Minaur and partner Alex Michelsen protecting set point against the European duo. Rune unleashed a ferocious forehand bullet aimed straight at de Minaur’s head. In a split-second reaction, the 26-year-old raised his racket to shield himself—only for the frame to catch his ear, causing a cut. Remarkably, the ball ricocheted off the strings for a winner, securing the point amid stunned silence from the 18,000 fans.
De Minaur dropped his racket, clutching his ear as trainers rushed on for a brief medical huddle. After quick treatment and a bandage, he returned—unfazed and unbroken. “Eyes are on the ball, I’m not afraid of balls,” de Minaur quipped post-match, flashing his trademark grin despite the visible swelling. “It was a good hit by him… but yeah, that one stung a bit.” The clip, showing the immediate aftermath—de Minaur’s ear taped and puffy—has racked up millions of views on social media, with fans hailing his toughness.
The setback didn’t slow him down: De Minaur and Michelsen broke Ruud early in the second set and held firm, sealing the two-point victory (doubled on Day 2) to cap a dominant afternoon for Team World. Captain Andre Agassi, watching from the bench, later joked: “That’s Aussie spirit—fight for the team.”
The Visual: A Bandaged Ear That Stole the Show
Photos and slow-motion replays from the broadcast captured the drama: De Minaur’s left ear, post-impact, appeared cut along the upper cartilage, with noticeable swelling. By the match’s end, it was wrapped in white athletic tape, protruding slightly but clearly patched well—no stitches needed, but enough to draw comparisons to gladiatorial grit. One widely shared image captures him mid-celebration, ear bandaged, fist-pumping as confetti falls, embodying the Laver Cup’s blend of drama and defiance.
De Minaur downplayed the severity: “It was a good day at the office… felt no pain after the first sting.” Teammate Michelsen added: “Alex was unbelievable again today. That ear? Just made him play harder.” Rune, gracious in defeat, texted de Minaur post-match: “Mate, that was insane—hope the ear’s okay!”
De Minaur’s Day of Glory: From Zverev Upset to Doubles Drama
This wasn’t de Minaur’s only highlight on a day that flipped the script for Team World. Earlier, he channeled Roger Federer (in attendance) with slice-heavy tactics to upset No. 3 Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-4 in singles—his third win over the German in team events and evening the score at 3-3. Francisco Cerúndolo and Taylor Fritz added singles points, while de Minaur’s doubles grit pushed World’s lead to 9-3 (worth 13 points total, with Sunday’s triples looming).
The ear incident, though, became the viral footnote—a reminder that in tennis’s pressure cooker, heroes emerge tested but standing tall. As de Minaur eyes a potential decider on Sunday (possibly against Novak Djokovic), his bandaged ear serves as a battle cry for Team World’s underdog bid.
