Alex de Minaur is about to face the biggest test of his Australian Open campaign so far.
De Minaur booked his place in the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park after a dominant display against Alexander Bublik.
The Australian beat Bublik in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, 6-1, to set up a last-eight clash with world number one Carlos Alcaraz.
What does Alex de Minaur need to change to challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner?
Alcaraz and de Minaur have played each other five times on the ATP Tour, with the Spaniard undefeated in the head-to-head.
Ahead of their sixth career meeting, former US Open champion Andy Roddick questioned whether the home hope stands any chance of making the semifinals.
Andy Roddick previews Alex de Minaur’s match with Carlos Alcaraz
Speaking on the ‘Served‘ podcast, Roddick said: “I didn’t have demon beating Bublik 4, 1 and 1.
“I thought that was a little bit more of a pick ’em, and demon said ‘you’re a dummy because I’m going to beat him 4, 1 and 1′.
“To break Bublik that many times, he’s seeing the ball like a grapefruit right now.
“Will that matter against Alcaraz, if he gets there, who took out Tommy Paul in three straight. You don’t know, right? It’s just matchups.
“Demon has proven that he’s better than most on earth, but does he have the weaponry to get through Alcaraz and Sinner? And that’s the kind of the question for most tournaments as it stands right now.”
Alex de Minaur’s rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz on the ATP Tour
De Minaur first faced Alcaraz at the Barcelona Open in 2022, where he enjoyed his best performance against the eventual six-time major champion.
There, de Minaur took the first set and forced Alcaraz to a second-set tiebreak, but failed to get over the line in the end.
Carlos Alcaraz would be the greatest youngster ever if he won the 2026 Australian Open – change my mind…
A year later, Alcaraz defeated him again in the final of Queen’s, which marked their first and only grass-court clash.
Their next three meetings all took place during the 2025 season, the first of which came in the Rotterdam title bout, which Alcaraz clinched.
Alcaraz then overcame him in Barcelona once more, before securing a fifth win in the rivalry at the ATP Finals.
The two stars will now meet at a Grand Slam for the very first time, with a place in the Australian Open semifinals up for grabs.
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