Alex de Minaur’s Historic Milestone: 50 Wins in 2025 After Shanghai Masters Heartbreak
Alex de Minaur’s valiant run at the 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters came to a close on October 10 with a straight-sets 6-4, 6-4 quarterfinal defeat to Daniil Medvedev, denying the Australian a maiden Masters 1000 title and a 51st win of the season. Yet, in a bittersweet silver lining, de Minaur’s third-round triumph over Nuno Borges on October 8 secured his **50th tour-level victory of 2025**, a career-best milestone that places him in elite company as just the third man to achieve it this year, behind Carlos Alcaraz (67 wins) and alongside Taylor Fritz (50). The world No. 7, who led the ATP with 37 hard-court wins entering Shanghai, reflected on the “amazing number” with pride, even as the loss stung: “It’s been a successful trip to Asia so far… hoping for many more to finish off the year.”
The Quarterfinal Heartbreak: Medvedev’s Brick Wall
De Minaur, seeded seventh, entered the match with momentum from straight-sets wins over Camilo Ugo Carabelli (6-4, 6-2), Kamil Majchrzak (6-4, 6-0), and Borges (7-5, 6-2), but Medvedev proved impenetrable. The Russian, ranked No. 18 and a 2019 Shanghai champion, won the first set 6-4 after breaking at 4-4 with a forehand winner, then dominated the second with 86% first-serve points won and 27 winners to de Minaur’s 16. The 1-hour, 53-minute affair saw de Minaur save three break points in game six of the decider but falter in the eighth after a 32-shot rally, handing Medvedev his eighth win in 12 meetings (8-4 head-to-head).
“It was a very physical match, and Daniil was just too solid today,” de Minaur said post-match. “I had my chances, but he didn’t give me much.” Medvedev, advancing to the semifinals against Arthur Rinderknech, praised his opponent’s fight: “Alex is always tough—he pushes me to my best.” The loss ends de Minaur’s 10-match win streak but locks his second straight ATP Finals berth (seventh in Race to Turin).
The Milestone: Third Man to 50 Wins, Australia’s Pride
De Minaur’s 50-18 record (73.5% win rate) surpasses his previous highs of 47 in 2022 and 2024, making him the first Australian man since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004 to hit the mark—a 21-year drought. He joins Alcaraz and Fritz in the “Club 50,” with Sinner (62 total wins but just 42 on hard courts) curiously absent from the hard-court leaders. De Minaur’s 37 hard-court triumphs remain the tour’s highest, three ahead of Alcaraz, Fritz, and Sinner (all at 34).
“For me, it just shows consistency, right, and that’s what I’m most proud of—showing up every single week,” de Minaur told Tennis TV after Borges, calling 50 “an amazing number.” His Shanghai surge—his third straight quarterfinal here—highlights the mental edge honed under coach Adriaan van den Berghem, despite tough head-to-heads (0-11 vs. Sinner, 0-4 vs. Alcaraz).
| 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 measured yet elated: “50 wins is amazing—I’m hoping for many more.” 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 Aussie to 50 since Hewitt, de Minaur’s feat revives national hopes, eclipsing Pat Rafter’s modern-era records and positioning him as Hewitt’s heir.
Next Steps: Paris-Bercy and ATP Finals Glory
De Minaur heads to Paris-Bercy (October 27) rested and motivated, with a top-5 breakthrough possible if he reaches the semifinals there (495 points from No. 5 Djokovic). The ATP Finals (November 10-17) offer redemption after a 2024 debut that ended in round-robin losses to Sinner, Medvedev, and Fritz. “Turin’s the big one—I’m aiming for more than last year,” he said. As the first Australian to 50 since Hewitt in 2004, de Minaur’s “amazing number” isn’t a peak—it’s a launchpad. The Demon’s 2025 grind is rewriting history; 2026 Down Under could be his coronation.
