Alex de Minaur Reaches 50 Wins in 2025: A ‘Pretty Cool Moment’ Milestone
Alex de Minaur has etched another chapter in his breakout 2025 campaign, becoming just the third man on the ATP Tour to hit **50 tour-level victories** for the season with a gritty 7-5, 6-2 third-round triumph over Nuno Borges at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on October 8. The 26-year-old Australian, seeded seventh and now in his seventh ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal of the year, called the achievement a “pretty cool moment” in a post-match Tennis TV interview, underscoring his pride in “showing up every single week” despite a grueling schedule. This career-best haul, tying Taylor Fritz and trailing only Carlos Alcaraz (67 wins), marks the first time an Australian man has reached 50 wins in a season since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004, surpassing Pat Rafter’s modern-era records and fueling de Minaur’s bid for a top-5 year-end ranking and a seeded Australian Open path.
The Shanghai Showdown: Gritty Grind to Glory
De Minaur’s breakthrough win was a testament to his mental fortitude amid Shanghai’s oppressive 32°C heat and 70% humidity. Against Borges, the Portuguese left-hander ranked No. 42 and fresh off upsetting No. 29 Brandon Nakashima, de Minaur saved three break points in the first set before converting his fourth at 5-5 for a 7-5 edge after 47 minutes. The second set was a masterclass, with de Minaur unleashing 19 winners against just 10 unforced errors, breaking twice for a 6-2 close in 1 hour total. Holding serve at 78% efficiency without facing a break, his upgraded serve under coach Adriaan van den Berghem blended power with precision, firing 78% first-serve points won.
“I had to fight hard today—it was a very big mental effort,” de Minaur said, crediting the “tough” conditions that have claimed rivals like Jannik Sinner (cramps retirement) and Holger Rune (medical timeout). Next up is a quarterfinal against either Daniil Medvedev or Learner Tien—a potential rematch with the Russian, against whom de Minaur is 0-4 but showed fight in Beijing. The victory extends his hard-court dominance, now at 37 wins—the tour’s highest—three ahead of Alcaraz, Fritz, and Sinner (all at 34).
The Milestone: Third Man to 50 Wins, Australia’s Pride
De Minaur’s 50-18 record (73.5% win rate) eclipses his previous highs of 47 in 2022 and 2024, making him the first Australian man since Hewitt’s 52 in 2004 to hit the mark—a 21-year drought. He joins an elite trio for 2025: Alcaraz (67 wins, eight titles including Wimbledon and US Open) and Fritz (50 wins, US Open finalist). Notably, Sinner trails with 42 hard-court wins despite his Australian Open and Wimbledon triumphs, giving de Minaur a rare edge over the world No. 2.
“This is pretty cool—a pretty cool moment,” de Minaur told Tennis TV, beaming with pride. “For me, it just shows consistency, right, and that’s what I’m most proud of—showing up every single week.” His Shanghai surge—his third straight quarterfinal here—highlights the mental edge honed under van den Berghem, despite tough head-to-heads (0-11 vs. Sinner, 0-4 vs. Alcaraz). As the first Aussie to lead hard-court wins, de Minaur’s feat revives national hopes, eclipsing Rafter’s modern-era records and positioning him as Hewitt’s heir.
| Player | 2025 Total Wins | Hard-Court Wins | Key 2025 Feats |
|——–|—————–|—————–|—————|
| Carlos Alcaraz | 67 | 34 | Wimbledon, US Open, Japan Open titles |
| Alex de Minaur | 50 | 37 (Tour-leading) | Acapulco defense, China Open SF, Shanghai QF |
| Taylor Fritz | 50 | 34 | US Open finalist, Masters consistency |
| Jannik Sinner | 62 | 42 | Australian Open, Wimbledon titles |
De Minaur’s Pride: “Hoping for Many More”
De Minaur’s reaction was understated yet elated: “50 wins is amazing—I’m hoping for many more to finish off the year.” He credited the “big mental effort” in Shanghai’s “very slow” courts (CPI 32.8) and heat, where he’s thrived despite the slowdown favoring grinders. As the first Australian to 50 since Hewitt, de Minaur’s “pretty cool moment” isn’t a peak—it’s a launchpad. The Demon’s 2025 grind is rewriting history; 2026 Down Under could be his coronation.
