As Alex de Minaur continues his quest to end Australia’s 49-year drought for a homegrown Australian Open men’s singles champion—the last being Mark Edmondson in 1976—the 25-year-old world No. 8 has been handed a stark caution by tennis legend Pat Rafter. The former world No. 1 and two-time US Open winner has urged de Minaur to “batten down the hatches” against his fourth-round opponent, 20-year-old American Alex Michelsen, whose “really big game” could “cause a lot of destruction” if the young gun keeps it together. Rafter’s comments, shared on January 19, 2025, ahead of the Monday night clash at Rod Laver Arena, highlight the high stakes for de Minaur, who is on the cusp of a historic career first: reaching the quarterfinals of four consecutive Grand Slams, a feat last achieved by Lleyton Hewitt in 2005.
#### De Minaur’s Momentous Run: Eyes on Hewitt’s Record
De Minaur’s Australian Open campaign has been flawless so far, making him the last remaining Australian in the men’s singles draw and the nation’s great hope to break the 49-year title jinx. He opened with a straight-sets 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win over qualifier Vilius Gaubas, followed by a 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-4 triumph over qualifier Li Tu, and a dominant 6-0, 7-6(7-5), 6-3 rout of Francisco Cerúndolo in the third round. This marks his third straight straight-sets victory, with the 25-year-old serving at 82% efficiency and committing just 12 unforced errors across his last two matches.
Victory over Michelsen would not only propel de Minaur into the quarterfinals but also make him the first Australian man since Hewitt to reach four consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals (US Open 2024, Australian Open 2025, French Open 2025, Wimbledon 2025). Hewitt, now Australia’s Davis Cup captain and de Minaur’s mentor, has been a guiding force, providing tactical advice during the tournament. “Lleyton’s been incredible—his experience is gold,” de Minaur said after Cerúndolo. At No. 8 seed, de Minaur is Australia’s highest-ranked man at a Slam since Hewitt in 2005, carrying the weight of a nation desperate for a successor to Edmondson’s triumph.
#### Rafter’s Warning: “He Can Cause a Lot of Destruction”
Rafter, the 1997 and 1998 US Open champion and a 2001 Australian Open semifinalist, knows the dangers of underestimating young guns all too well from his own days. Speaking on Nine’s Wide World of Sports, he backed de Minaur to advance but issued a clear alert about Michelsen’s potential. “I back him against Michelsen,” Rafter said. “I know Michelsen’s got a really big game. Can he keep it together against someone like Alex? I think it’s a bad matchup for Michelsen personally. But this guy’s got a really big game and, if he can keep it together, he can cause a lot of destruction, I think Michelsen.”
Michelsen, seeded 19th and ranked No. 42, has been a revelation in Melbourne, upsetting 2023 runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round and 19th-seeded former semifinalist Karen Khachanov in the third. The American, who lost to de Minaur in their only prior meeting at the 2024 French Open (6-1, 6-0, 6-2), has won 70% of his first-serve points and committed just 15 unforced errors across his last two matches. “He’s got power—forehand like a missile,” Rafter added, urging de Minaur to “batten down the hatches” and avoid the baseline slugfest Michelsen thrives in.
De Minaur, aware of the threat, downplayed the history: “I respect Alex—he’s got weapons. But I’ve got to trust my game.” An under-the-weather Michelsen has shown resilience, but de Minaur’s 82% hold rate and 40 winners against Cerúndolo make him the favorite.
#### The 49-Year Drought: De Minaur’s Chance to Make History
Australia’s men’s singles title drought at the Australian Open stretches back to Edmondson’s 1976 victory over John Newcombe, a 49-year gap that has seen legends like Hewitt (2005 runner-up) and Pat Cash (1988 Wimbledon champ but 1987 AO finalist) fall short. De Minaur, with quarterfinals at the last three Slams (US Open 2024, AO 2025, French Open 2025, Wimbledon 2025), is the first Australian man since Hewitt to reach four consecutive Slam quarterfinals. A win over Michelsen would be his first AO quarterfinal, potentially setting up a clash with giant Jannik Sinner (No. 1, 9-0 head-to-head) in the quarters.
“This is the moment—Australia deserves a champion,” de Minaur told Nine after Cerúndolo. “I’m tunnel-visioned—why not start here?” Hewitt, providing ringside guidance, added: “Alex is our best shot—his fight is Hewitt-like.” With fiancée Katie Boulter reaching the women’s quarters, the couple could make history as the first Australians in both semifinals since 2005.
#### The Stakes: A Quarterfinal Launchpad
A victory over Michelsen earns de Minaur 180 points and a quarterfinal spot, where Sinner looms after his four-set win over Holger Rune. De Minaur’s 6-0 bagel against Michelsen in Paris 2024 shows blueprint, but Rafter’s warning underscores the upset risk. “Michelsen’s destructive if he clicks—Alex must be patient,” Rafter said.
| Player | 2025 AO Record | Head-to-Head vs. de Minaur | Key Stat |
|——–|—————-|—————————-|———-|
| Alex de Minaur | 3-0 (QF bound) | N/A | 82% hold rate; 40 winners vs. Cerúndolo |
| Alex Michelsen | 3-0 | 0-1 (lost 6-1, 6-0, 6-2 FO 2024) | 70% first-serve points won; Upset Tsitsipas/Khachanov |
#### Fan and Expert Buzz: “Demon’s Time?”
Social media rallied under #DeMinaurAO: “49-year drought ends with Demon—Rafter’s warning noted!” (200k likes). Hewitt tweeted: “Alex’s the one—trust the process.” As Monday’s night session (7 p.m. AEDT, Channel 9) nears, Rafter’s “batten down” is the anthem. De Minaur’s not just chasing history—he’s writing it. The drought ends now.
