De Minaur races into Open fourth round

Melissa Woods and Darren Walton | January 19, 2024

Alex de Minaur is carving out his own slice of Australian Open history, becoming the first local man in almost 20 years to make the second week of the Melbourne grand slam for three straight years.

De Minaur was in a different league to Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli, living up to his top-10 billing in a 6-3 6-3 6-1 victory on John Cain Arena on Friday night.

The home hope was watched in the stands by former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt, his Davis Cup captain and idol who completed the round-of-16 hat-trick back in 2005.

That year, Hewitt charged all the way to the final – and de Minaur’s hot run has raised hopes he can too.

Also the first Aussie man since Hewitt in 2006 to gate-crash the world’s top 10 following a sizzling start to the year, de Minaur will play the winner of Friday’s late clash between American Sebastian Korda and Russian Andrey Rublev. 

That showdown is scheduled for Sunday night with de Minaur will gun for his first quarter-final berth at Melbourne Park.

After claiming three top-10 scalps – including top-ranked Novak Djokovic – at the season-opening United Cup – facing world No.5 Rublev won’t faze the local favourite.

Adding more power to his blistering pace, de Minaur has evolved from the player who fell to Djokovic and current world No.4 Jannik Sinner in straight sets in the past two years of the Open.

The Australian wrapped up the first set with an ace, taking just 39 minutes, while the second was a tougher contest despite the same scoreline, with de Minaur needing 57 minutes to take a two-set lead.

Making his Open debut and playing in just his second ever grand slam world No.100 Cobolli didn’t play too badly but the 21-year-old was unable to match de Minaur when it mattered.

Having played his first two rounds in the main stadium Rod Laver Arena, De Minaur said he took time to adjust to the raucous John Cain Arena.

“I struggled a bit to find my rhythm throughout the match but I stayed in the moment, stayed composed and it worked out in the end,” the 24-year-old said.

“The atmosphere over here is something else. I enjoyed every second of it but it is a little bit different to RLA and it took a little bit to get used to.

“It felt a bit slower  and I was over-hitting at stages, wasn’t quite finding my timing but we move on and on to the next round.”

Whoever he played next a fresh de Minaur, who has only dropped one set in three matches, said he would approach the fourth round with confidence.

“It’s all going to come down to the level I bring in the following match,” the Sydneysider said.

“I’ve got to back myself up, I’ve got to believe, got to play positive tennis. 

“I know the whole crowd is going to be behind me and am going to enjoy every second of it.”