‘If he gets the chance to win, he will take it,’ John Newcombe on Alex de Minaur

John Newcombe says Alex de Minaur has sent “a warning to the other guys in the draw” and he says a recent attitude shift has him primed to win ­the Australian Open.

Tennis greats have goosebumps about the prospect of homegrown hero Alex de Minaur playing the Australian Open final on Australia Day.

While he has his work cut out first in a blockbuster quarter final against world No.1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner on Wednesday night, de Minaur is riding a wave of confidence and sporting legends say home support could lift him all the way to the title.

With the draw opening up if he can find a way past Sinner, de Minaur looms as Australia’s best crack at a home men’s grand slam singles title since his mentor Lleyton Hewitt fell at the last hurdle 20 years ago.

The prospect has prompted renewed calls to better celebrate Australia Day at the AO – especially if there is a home hero in action hoping to end a 49-year drought for an Aussie man to claim the singles title.

Alex de Minaur looms as Australia’s best crack at a home men’s grand slam singles. Picture: Michael Klein

“Oh my God, it would be huge,” Sam Stosur said of de Minaur possibly playing the men’s final on Australia Day.

“Let’s hope. Fingers crossed. I just got goosebumps thinking that could happen.”

While the world No.8 still had “a long way to go, obviously”, US Open winner Stosur said: “If you don’t dream, it doesn’t happen.

“I’m sure maybe a little part of him has already thought about that, but when you’re the one playing, it really is a match at a time, and you can’t take anything for granted.

Sam Stosur says she got goosebumps thinking about de Minaur winning the Australian Open. Picture: Mark Stewart

“Grand slams always throw up something nobody expects, every match is really crucial, but maybe Alex will throw up a surprise.”

Tennis Australia on Tuesday said it was “proud to celebrate the spirit of our nation throughout the tournament and on Australia Day”.

“We welcome fans from across the country and around the world and showcase the best of the best of Aussie culture, sport, and entertainment for three weeks in January,” it said.

But the best of the January 26 celebrations on men’s finals day would be playing the­ ­national anthem and parading Aussie flags, including on LED walls, in Rod Laver Arena.

The Australian of the Year, to be announced on Saturday, will be invited to the men’s final on Sunday night, and Australian music will be played in Garden Square.

“We encourage everyone to join the celebration by donning their best green and gold or sporting their favourite Aussie flag-inspired looks,” Tennis Australia said.

Aussie tennis legend John Newcombe told the Herald Sun that Australia Day needed to be celebrated properly.

“Australia Day is our day and as a proud Australian I am 100 per cent behind it,” he said.

“Anybody who doesn’t want to come out and support the day, I don’t understand it.

“It’s not about this or that (issue). “All we are doing is ­recognising how lucky we are to live in this country.”

He said an Aussie playing a final on Australia Day “would be enormous”.

De Minaur is just the sixth Australian man to reach the AO quarter finals at Melbourne Park, joining Nick Kyrgios (2015), Lleyton Hewitt (2005), Mark Woodford (1996) and Pat Cash in 1988 – the year the slam moved from Kooyong.

Newcombe said de Minaur was already a national sporting treasure with his never-say-die attitude and modest approach, but was probably three years away from reaching his full potential.

“The difference between Alex now and Alex, say, six months ago is Alex now ­believes that he belongs where he is, which is part of the battle,” Newcombe said.

John Newcombe praised de Minaur for his never-say-die attitude and modest approach. Picture: AFP

“And if he gets the chance to win, he will take it.

“There is a fear of winning and a fear of losing, and the champions have no fear of winning, and I think Alex has gone to that stage.”

Stosur said: “The way he is playing at the moment is fantastic. It’s probably as confident as he has ever been … he’s physically looking amazing.

“He keeps saying how good he looks out on court. Maybe that is a bit of a warning to the other guys in the draw to say ‘hey, I’m here for the long run, I can outlast anyone because I’ve done the work’.”