2025 Australian Open: Jannik Sinner thrashes Alex de Minaur in straight sets
Alex de Minaur’s Australian Open campaign has ended in a crushing 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 defeat to No.1 seed Jannik Sinner.
Sporting venues develop a certain mood. As though the emotions of the attendees start bouncing off the walls. The buzz around Melbourne Park is palpable and pulsating when Alex de Minaur steps onto Rod Laver Arena for his Australian Open quarter-final against Jannik Sinner. You don’t feel something in the air every night … but you do tonight.
De Minaur has played some big matches in his time but nothing comparing to this. If he beats Italy’s world No.1 at his home slam, in front of a full house, with millions watching on TV, daylight will be second on his list of career highlights. The greatest sporting stories involve conquering something and someone new and de Minaur has never beaten Sinner nor reached the Australian Open semis. No time like the present.
Sinner versus Demon. Should be a hell of a match. What de Minaur needs is a fast start to settle his nerves, to show Sinner he’s here to play, to get the crowd involved. The latter is key. RLA crowds never mask their feelings. If they’re disappointed by an Australian player, they go quiet and the air is sucked out of the joint. If they sense victory, they roar like it’s an AFL grand final. De Minaur has a hint of Rocky Balboa about him. An opportunity has arrived to take down the champ.
Is Sinner healthy? Still green around the gills after his recent bug? He looks slightly wobbly but fine enough. De Minaur faces his first break point as early as 1-2 in the opening set. He’s been serving bigger than ever but also more erratically. Sinner wins a booming baseline rally to get the jump at 4-1. De Minaur’s backhand is misfiring. He doesn’t have the luxury of immense topspin, which increases the margin for error, and his two-hander is an early liability.
No shortage of effort from de Minaur, of course, pumping his fist in his good moments, scraping and clawing, chasing everything, trying doggedly to soak up Sinner’s effortless power then return fire, but the first set comes and goes 6-3 in 38 minutes. De Minaur resembles a very good player. Sinner is reminding us that he’s a great one. The audience is subdued.
Even more so when de Minaur drops his opening service game of the second set. His hope is to hang tough long enough in a set to apply a little scoreboard pressure. When you get to 4-4 and beyond, anything can happen, but Sinner is hitting the ball so cleanly and powerfully he looks like a character in a computer game. De Minaur looks at his entourage and shouts, “What can I do?” Good question. If there’s an answer, he needs to find it immediately.
Sinner showcases all the silky skills that have earned him two major titles and the top ranking. A drop shot to finish the second game of the second set floats like a butterfly and lands as softly as one. He’s not merely a successful tennis player. He’s an eye-pleasing one. His technique is natural and freeflowing. He has every shot in the book. A gentlemanly but competitive manner. You can only regard him with admiration and awe.
“It’s like a heavyweight fighting a middleweight,” is John McEnroe’s description in TV commentary. What can de Minaur do? He throws the kitchen sink, the fridge and all the utensils at the must-win second set. He’s needed Sinner to have an off night but the Italian has brought his A-game. His A-plus game. De Minaur misses a sitter of a backhand that prompts a deafening groan from the stands. He’s only deploying his B-game but to be fair, Sinner isn’t letting him rise any higher.
De Minaur’s Australian Open campaign ends in a crushing 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 defeat. His fiancee, Katie Boulter, hasn’t seen the match, leaving Melbourne to play her next tournament. She hasn’t missed much. It’s de Minaur’s tenth consecutive loss to Sinner. He doesn’t appear to be getting any closer. He’s made a bold run at Melbourne Park but the ending has been swift. You can hear a pin drop in the dying stages. Australian flags are folded on spectators’ laps. Banners go unseen. The buzz is gone. Sounds of silence. The mood has changed. Disappointment is bouncing off the walls.
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