Alex de Minaur is set to come under the microscope at the Australian Open, which makes its return next month.
De Minaur is trying to catch Carlos Alcaraz right now, with the Spaniard currently the number one player on the ATP Tour.
The Australian ace occupies seventh place in the world rankings, and finished his latest season with one ATP title.
De Minaur likes the state of Australian tennis, although a home Australian Open winner last emerged on the men’s side all the way back in 1976.
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Alex de Minaur says Australian Open pressure is ‘a good thing’
Mark Edmondson clinched the title back then at the Australian Open, a tournament at which De Minaur is desperate to impress in 2026.
He told Esquire: “It’s no secret that it’s where I most want to play well. I want to play well in front of my people.
“Every year, you start there, and there’s the expectation [you’ll] do some damage… and hey, as soon as you win a couple of matches, the outside noise gets louder and it’s a bit of a catch-22.
“The outside noise [raises the pressure], but at the same time, it’s a good thing because it means you’re doing something right.”
Why Alex de Minaur is the Australian player to watch at the Australian Open
De Minaur is undoubtedly the Australian to keep an eye on at the Australian Open, both across men’s and women’s tennis.
He’s a top 10 player, and reached the quarterfinals of the Grand Slam for the first time in his career in 2025.
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Moreover, the home favorite was knocked out by Jannik Sinner, who quickly went on to successfully defend his title.
Both short-term and long-term momentum should be on his side, with De Minaur having won the UTS London Grand Final earlier this month.
A rankings rise should also be on his agenda for 2026, with a lengthy run at the Australian Open representing the perfect starting point.
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