Alex de Minaur’s run at the Australian Open ended in the quarterfinals with a straight-sets loss to World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz. The sixth seed pushed hard early on Rod Laver Arena but faded as the match progressed, falling 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 in two hours and 15 minutes. The defeat extends his record against the Spaniard to 0-6.
De Minaur’s Performance Analysis
De Minaur had entered the match in confident form, having dropped only one set all tournament and posting convincing straight-sets wins over Frances Tiafoe and Alexander Bublik. He matched Alcaraz’s intensity through a high-quality opening set that lifted the home crowd, but once the top seed broke ahead, the momentum swung decisively.
Australia’s No. 1 later assessed that his game plan demanded he hit bigger and take more risks than he typically does, and that sustaining that level throughout a match against a top rival remains the hurdle. He described the need to become comfortable executing that style from start to finish, noting he is working to add ball speed to groundstrokes that are naturally flatter. He also pointed to the heavy spin generated by players such as Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, which allows them to combine pace with control and create sharper angles, acknowledging the challenge of matching that blend under pressure.
The 26-year-old has now reached the quarterfinals at a major seven times, with six losses and one withdrawal at that stage. Despite significant progress in recent seasons—10 tour-level titles, a career-high ranking of No. 6, and back-to-back appearances at the Nitto ATP Finals—he has yet to make a breakthrough against the sport’s current standard-bearers. He has lost all 19 matches he has played against Alcaraz and Sinner combined, a run that he admitted feels deflating when it doesn’t reflect the work he believes he is putting in.
Alcaraz, a six-time major champion, has not dropped a set in Melbourne and is into his first Australian Open semifinal as he pursues a Career Grand Slam. De Minaur credited the top seed’s ability to punish any short ball and to generate pace at will, and said he will be watching closely to see how the rest of the tournament unfolds. As de Minaur continues to refine his skills, fans hope to see him break through against the world’s elite players in future tournaments.