Alex de Minaur has continued his blistering start to his Australian Open campaign, having brushed aside Alexander Bublik with remarkable ease.
When the draw for this tournament came out, many pointed out this potential third-round match-up as a blockbuster clash.
However, in the end, it fell well short of expectations, mainly due to just how impressive the Aussie was.
His clinical performance turned the match into an anti-climax, and he wasted no time in turning his attention to Carlos Alcaraz immediately after the win.
Alex de Minaur previews his Australian Open match against Carlos Alcaraz
Alex de Minaur began his on-court interview by praising his opponent, despite the easy nature of his victory.
He admitted: “I knew what I was in for today. Bublik is a hell of a player. He has so much firepower, and I lost to him the last couple of times, so I made sure that I wanted to be ready to go from the first shot to the last, and I was locked in.
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“It was all about neutralising his ground strokes and doing my best to get him on the move and it all kind of worked perfectly today, so I am super happy.”
Having lost most recently to Bublik at last year’s French Open, conceding a two-set lead in inexplicable fashion, revenge was at the forefront of De Minaur’s mind, as he claimed: “I was definitely thinking about the last two matches I played him.
“He is super dangerous. He can hit winners off anything basically and take the rhythm out of the match and make it as scrappy as possible.
“I had to be locked in from the first point to the last, huge mental effort, and now I’m into the quarters so job done.”
Jim Courier made the suggestion that this might be the best form De Minaur has ever exhibited at a Grand Slam, to which he replied: “I think the last two matches I have played I have hit the ball extremely well. I am super pleased with my level. I am doing everything I want on the court, and I’m excited for the next one. That is going to be a big one, right? I’m going to have to come out here guns blazing and I’m excited for a battle against Carlitos.”
De Minaur concluded by revealing his preparation ahead of his next Australian Open match with Alcaraz: “I am going to do my best to sleep in, get myself a good coffee to start the day.
“As far as preparation goes, I have hit enough tennis balls recently, I am not going to need to do too much. I am hitting the ball great. I will have a nice easy session, 30-45 minutes and another 30-45 minutes in the gym and ultimately just relax a bit and enjoy my time in Melbourne and get ready for an absolute battle in a couple of days’ time.”
Alcaraz has spoken about facing De Minaur next too, with both players seemingly excited about the match-up.
Alex de Minaur’s terrible head-to-head record against Carlos Alcaraz
De Minaur will be well aware of how poor his head-to-head record is against both Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Historically, they have been match-ups that have not suited his game at all.
Fortunately, it’s clear that the 26-year-old has made great strides with his game over the last year, putting in a particularly spirited showing against Sinner in the ATP Finals in late 2025.
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He will have to put in the best performance of his career to stop Alcaraz, who is seemingly a man on a mission as he seeks out his career Grand Slam.
De Minaur has yet to beat the Spaniard in five opportunities, losing three matches against him last year.
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