Alex de Minaur admits the problem he keeps having in big matches after he loses to Felix Auger-Aliassime at the US Open
Alex de Minaur’s quest for a maiden Grand Slam semifinal ended in disappointment on September 3, 2025, as he fell to Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 7-6(9-7), 7-5, 7-6(7-4) in the US Open quarterfinals at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Australian No. 1, visibly frustrated, identified his persistent serving struggles as the critical issue in big matches, telling reporters, “The biggest thing for me is my serve. My serve’s been letting me down in big matches,” as reported by *ATP Tour* and *The Tennis Gazette*. De Minaur’s first-serve percentage plummeted to a career-low 42%, with 11 double faults, including two in the fourth-set tiebreaker, which he admitted created “a lot more pressure on everything else” (*brisbanetimes.com.au*).
Despite a strong start, winning the first set 6-4 and producing a highlight-reel tweener lob that electrified the crowd (*ABC News*), de Minaur couldn’t maintain consistency. He squandered a set point in the second-set tiebreaker and a 5-2 lead in the fourth, allowing Auger-Aliassime, ranked No. 27, to capitalize with 22 aces and a 64% first-serve percentage (*Livemint*). “I played way too many points out there with my second serve,” de Minaur lamented, noting that starting points “on the back foot” led to 93 unforced errors (*thetennisgazette.com*). This echoed his Wimbledon 2024 loss to Novak Djokovic, where similar serving issues surfaced.
De Minaur’s candid self-assessment highlighted a recurring problem: his serve falters under pressure against top players in major tournaments. “It’s something that needs to improve,” he stressed, acknowledging that his 41-16 season record and No. 7 ATP Live Race ranking show his elite status, yet his 0-6 Grand Slam quarterfinal record remains a hurdle (*atptour.com*). Tim Henman, on *Eurosport*, called the serving performance a “killer,” while Jim Courier noted it was unprecedented for de Minaur (*watoday.com.au*).
Despite the loss, de Minaur’s season, including a Washington title and back-to-back US Open quarterfinals, underscores his consistency. His sensitivity to his coaching team’s family time, as mentioned in *Yahoo Sports*, reflects his off-court maturity. However, with past quarterfinal losses to players like Jannik Sinner and Dominic Thiem, addressing his serve’s reliability is crucial. De Minaur now looks to the 2026 Australian Open, aiming to refine his game to break through the quarterfinal barrier.
