Alex de Minaur told what he must do if he wants to win Grand Slams against Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Alex de Minaur Told What He Must Do to Win Grand Slams Against Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Alex de Minaur, Australia’s relentless world No. 7, has established himself as one of the ATP Tour’s most consistent performers in 2025, reaching 50 wins for the season and leading the hard-court victory tally with 37. Yet, for all his grit—quarterfinals at every Grand Slam this year—de Minaur remains winless in 15 matches against the top two, Jannik Sinner (0-11) and Carlos Alcaraz (0-4). The 26-year-old’s path to a maiden major title hinges on overcoming this “Big Two” barrier, and former Australian star Mark Philippoussis has laid out a clear blueprint: **De Minaur must embrace risk on big points, step out of his comfort zone, and play aggressively to disrupt their rhythm**. In a recent Tennis Australia interview, Philippoussis warned that de Minaur’s safe, counterpunching style, while effective against most, won’t suffice against the elite’s power and variety—urging him to “take a little bit more risks” in the second week of Slams.
The Big Two Barrier: A Lopsided Record
De Minaur’s head-to-heads paint a stark picture of the challenge. Against Sinner, he’s endured 11 straight losses since their 2020 Next Gen ATP Finals meeting, including a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 Shanghai semifinal defeat on September 30 where he finally took a set for the first time in five years. Alcaraz has been equally unforgiving, winning all four encounters—most recently a three-set Rotterdam final in February. “Those top players… I’m going to have to play out of my comfort zone to beat this guy,” Philippoussis said, noting de Minaur’s 50-9 record against non-top-10 foes but 1-13 against the top 10 overall.
De Minaur’s consistency is undeniable—50 wins tie him with Taylor Fritz for third behind Alcaraz (67) and Sinner (62)—but his safe baseline game cedes initiative to the Big Two’s explosive returns and depth. “He’s got to look with his team and go, ‘Okay, I’ve got to try something different here on those big points,’” Philippoussis advised, suggesting varied serves, net approaches, and riskier forehands to force errors.
Philippoussis’s Blueprint: Risk, Variety, and Big-Point Bravery
The 1996 Australian Open champion, who reached a career-high No. 3, outlined three key adjustments for de Minaur to breakthrough:
1. **Embrace Risk on Big Points**: De Minaur’s 78% first-serve win rate is elite, but Philippoussis urges bolder second serves and aggressive returns to pressure Sinner’s 86% hold rate or Alcaraz’s variety. “Take a little bit more risks but I think it’s, second stages, those second weeks in the Grand Slams especially against those top players.”
2. **Vary Tactics Beyond Counterpunching**: While de Minaur’s speed neutralizes pace, he must mix slices, drops, and net rushes to disrupt the Big Two’s baseline dominance. “Play out of your comfort zone—those top players like Sinner, Alcaraz, or Djokovic. ‘Okay, I’m going to have to play out of my comfort zone to beat this guy.’”
3. **Mental Shift for Slams**: De Minaur’s quarterfinal streak at all four majors is historic for an Australian since Lleyton Hewitt, but semifinals require “something different” in high-stakes moments, like his 2023 Canadian Open final loss to Sinner.
De Minaur, who recently hired Andy Murray’s ex-coach Jamie Delgado, has tweaked his serve for more power, crediting it for his China Open semifinal set win over Sinner. “To compete with the biggest and best, you need that edge on serve,” he said pre-Shanghai.
De Minaur’s Path: Top-5 Ranking and Aus Open Seeding
A top-5 year-end ranking—de Minaur is 495 points from No. 5 Novak Djokovic—would seed him at the 2026 Australian Open, avoiding early Big Two clashes. Unseeded in 2025, he met Sinner in the quarters (6-3, 6-2, 6-1 loss); seeding could delay that to semis, preserving energy. With 37 hard-court wins (tour-leading), Shanghai quarters (vs. Medvedev/Tien) could seal it.
| Head-to-Head | Record | Key Match |
|————–|——–|———–|
| vs. Jannik Sinner | 0-11 | Shanghai SF 2025 (6-3, 4-6, 6-2; first set won) |
| vs. Carlos Alcaraz | 0-4 | Rotterdam Final 2025 (lost in 3 sets) |
De Minaur’s Response: “Hoping for Many More”
De Minaur, reflecting on his 50-win milestone, remains grounded: “It’s an amazing number… hoping for many more.” His Shanghai run—48 wins vs. Carabelli, 50 vs. Borges—shows the blueprint in action. As the first Aussie to 50 since Hewitt’s 2004, de Minaur’s risk-ready evolution could unlock Slams. Against the Big Two? The Demon’s ready to roar.
