Australian tennis fans have reason to celebrate as Alex de Minaur has ascended to World No. 8 in the ATP rankings, surpassing Andrey Rublev. This achievement ensures de Minaur will be the 8th seed at the upcoming Australian Open, potentially providing a more favorable draw by avoiding top-seeded players until the later stages of the tournament.
De Minaur’s rise in the rankings is attributed to his consistent performances, including victories over Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Billy Harris at the United Cup. Although Australia did not reach the quarter-finals, these wins contributed valuable ATP points, enabling de Minaur to overtake Rublev, who experienced an early exit at the Hong Kong tournament.
This seeding advantage means de Minaur will avoid facing top players like Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic before the quarter-finals, potentially enhancing his prospects in the tournament. Notably, de Minaur has reached the fourth round of the Australian Open for three consecutive years, and this improved seeding could facilitate a deeper run in the 2025 edition.
In related news, Novak Djokovic, currently ranked World No. 7, is preparing for the Australian Open with a new coaching partnership alongside Andy Murray. Despite a recent unexpected loss to Reilly Opelka at the Brisbane International, Djokovic remains a formidable contender as he aims for his 25th Grand Slam title.
