Alex de Minaur’s Inspiring Reaction to Novak Djokovic’s High Praise After Reaching the Fourth Round of the Australian Open
Alex de Minaur is now aiming to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the first time in his career. As the last remaining Australian in the tournament, the nation’s hopes rest heavily on De Minaur’s shoulders.
Ranked eighth in the ATP world standings, De Minaur has been in impressive form this year, dropping just one set on his way to the last 16. His journey began with a victory over Botic van de Zandschulp in the first round, followed by a win against Tristan Boyer in the second. This set up a third-round clash with Francisco Cerundolo.
In a tough match against Cerundolo, De Minaur lost the first set but fought back to win in four sets, securing his place in the next round. His performance has drawn praise from Novak Djokovic, who acknowledged De Minaur’s recent progress and predicted great things for him in the tournament.
Responding to Djokovic’s comments, Alex de Minaur expressed his gratitude in a post-match press conference. “Hearing compliments from someone like Novak [Djokovic], who is virtually perfect in every aspect of his game, is obviously very nice,” he said. “It’s always good when other players notice your hard work. It means you’re doing something right, and that’s a great feeling.
Reflecting on his current form, Alex de Minaur noted a change in his approach compared to previous years. “In the past, I might have found a way to lose a match like today’s,” he said. “Even if I’m not at my best, I’m going to compete until the end and be a tough opponent for anyone.”
De Minaur’s determination paid off as he overcame Cerundolo 5-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3, marking his fourth consecutive year reaching the last 16 of the Australian Open. Now, he looks forward to his next challenge with hopes of advancing further.
“We move on,” De Minaur said. “Hopefully, bigger and better things are coming in the next round.
In the fourth round, Alex de Minaur will face Alex Michelsen, an American who has reached this stage of a Major tournament for the first time. Michelsen has already made headlines by defeating notable opponents, including Stefanos Tsitsipas, James Mccabe, and Karen Khachanov.
Acknowledging Michelsen’s form, Alex de Minaur said, “He’s a dangerous opponent with a lot of confidence. He’s taken some big scalps this week, so I’m ready for a battle. He’s going to play with no fear, and I’ll do my best to make it difficult for him.”
De Minaur and Michelsen have faced each other twice on the ATP Tour, with their head-to-head record standing at 1-1. Their upcoming match promises to be a thrilling encounter as both players vie for a spot in the quarter-finals.
De Minaur will take on Michelsen on Monday, January 20, in what is expected to be an intense and closely contested match. The Australian hopes to continue his strong performance and make a deep run in his home Grand Slam.
