Australian Open: Can Alex de Minaur overcome his fourth round demons?

He’s carried the hopes of a nation all week, but as he reaches his bogey stage of the Australian Open, the pressure on Alex de Minaur is just starting to rise, writes JULIAN LINDEN.

A slender man, Alex de Minaur’s consistent success in the Grand Slam tennis tournaments has always been built around his lightning speed on the court and his dogged determination to fetch more balls than a kelpie.

It’s served him well so far, albeit without yet getting his name engraved on any of the sport’s most prized trophies.

But while he’s got the legs, he’s going to need some mighty broad shoulders if he wants to win the Australian Open because of the burden of expectation he’ll have to carry given the poor record of local blokes underperforming at home.

Ash Barty successfully shouldered the extra load that comes with chasing the holy grail when she broke through to win the women’s title in 2022, but quit soon after and never played again.

Carrying the weight of a nation: Australia's Alex de Minaur. Picture: David Gray/AFP

Apart from a few notable exceptions, Australia’s male tennis players have mostly flopped at home. De Minaur has the chance to rectify that, though it won’t be easy.

On the verge of his first quarterfinal appearance at Melbourne Park, the pressure on him will intensify with every step he takes, because this is uncharted waters for Aussie men.

For all the chest beating that Australian tennis makes about its global success in the sport, the record of local blokes at their home grand slam is embarrassing.

Every Aussie tennis fan knows the last local to win the men’s singles title was Mark Edmondson in 1976, but what’s less known is the infrequency of Australian guys in the last eight.

Since 1988, the year the Australian Open was moved from the grass at Kooyong to Melbourne Park’s hardcourts, just five Aussie men have made it as far as the quarterfinals.

The most recent was a decade ago, when Nick Kyrgios made the last eight.

The last one before that was another decade earlier, when the great Lleyton Hewitt went all the way to the final.

Pat Rafter (2001) and Mark Woodforde (1996) both made the semis, while Pat Cash was runner-up in 1988.

It’s been slim pickings, and de Minaur knows it, but he’s vowed to give it his best shot and fight to the end.

“Before I walk on the court, every time I make a pact with myself, a promise to myself, that I’m going to compete till the very last point no matter what,” he said.

Like the five other Aussie men who have made it through to the last three rounds at Melbourne Park, de Minaur’s best results in the majors have all been overseas.

He’s already made the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, the French Open and the US Open, but failed to make it past the fourth round in his home slam.

This year is the fourth time in a row he’s made it to the round of 16. Standing in his way is American Alex Michelsen, an up and comer who only just turned professional in 2023.

Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter recently got engaged. Picture: Tim Clayton

They will lock horns at Rod Laver Arena on Monday. The weather forecast is for a baking hot summer’s day, which is just the way de Minaur likes it.

Recently engaged to British No. 1 Katie Boulter, he’s getting used to being in the spotlight so says having spectators on his side is helpful, not a hindrance.

“There’s no better feeling than playing in front of a packed crowd. Even playing in a day session and seeing everyone out there with me for four hours,” he said.

“They’re in the stands, and it’s hot in the stands as well. It’s obviously hot on the court. For most of that match, people in the stands are out there in the sun supporting me … that’s truly special.

“Aussie heat, born and raised in it, I’m ready to go.”

Marat Safin, Ken Rosewall and Lleyton Hewitt at the 2005 Australian Open final.

De Minaur and Michelsen have played each other twice before, with the results split.

The American won their first clash, in Mexico in February, but de Minaur isn’t just quick on his feet. He’s a quick learner too and beat Michelsen in straight sets in their next encounter at the French Open.

“He’s been playing really well,” de Minaur said.

“He’s a dangerous opponent with a lot of confidence now. He’s taken some big scalps this week, so ready for a battle. He’s going to go out there with no fear. I’m going to do my best to make it difficult for him.”

Originally published as Australian Open: Can Alex de Minaur overcome his fourth round demons?