The tennis world is reeling from the “very sad” news of Alex de Minaur’s withdrawal from the 2025 French Open due to a severe hip injury, a devastating blow for Australia’s top-ranked player, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald on May 22, 2025. De Minaur, nicknamed “Demon” and seeded ninth, was set to face Christopher Eubanks in the first round but aggravated a pre-existing hip issue during a practice session in Paris, forcing him to pull out just days before the tournament’s start on May 25. The injury, initially sustained during the Australian Open in January, had already disrupted his 2025 season, with de Minaur managing only a quarterfinal run in Rome and a third-round exit in Madrid.
Fans and analysts on X expressed heartbreak, with @TennisAus calling it a “gut-punch for Demon fans,” while @SportsHerald labeled his absence a “brutal fate” given his tough draw, which included a potential quarterfinal against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. De Minaur, who reached the Roland Garros quarterfinals in 2024, was optimistic about challenging Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, but his withdrawal opens the draw for players like Eubanks and 24th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. In a statement, de Minaur said, “I’m shattered to miss Roland Garros. My hip isn’t right, and I need to prioritize recovery.” His team confirmed he’ll undergo rehabilitation in Sydney, aiming for Wimbledon.
The news compounds a challenging year for Australian tennis, with no top-10 players in the men’s draw and only Jordan Thompson (No. 38) and Aleksandar Vukic (No. 78) competing. De Minaur’s absence, as a fan favorite and clay-court contender, has left the tennis community mourning his lost chance to build on his career-best 2024 performance.
