Alex de Minaur is enjoying a fine run at the Australian Open, but now faces Carlos Alcaraz for a spot in the semifinals.
De Minaur has never made it beyond the quarterfinals of any Grand Slam, while Alcaraz boasts six titles at that level.
But the ATP number one has never won the Australian Open, where De Minaur is the last Australian remaining.
Also still in the tournament are two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time champion Novak Djokovic.
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Pat Cash compares Alex de Minaur to Andre Agassi
Ahead of De Minaur’s meeting with Alcaraz, tennis legend Pat Cash was asked what it will take for the Australian world number six to beat the big players on the biggest stage.
He said on Tennis Channel: “I think he’s doing absolutely everything right. What Alex does really, really well, I think better than almost any player in the world, I call it the Andre Agassi, is that he never gets pushed behind the baseline.
“You watch him, he’s sliding all over the place, so he’s one step, and he’s super quick, so he’s one or two steps, quick steps, away from half volume shots on the baseline.
“We know how good these guys are, Djokovic and the hard-hitting players. We saw him destroy his opponent (Alexander Bublik) yesterday.
“But Alex doesn’t go back too far, so he’s always in attacking mode, and he’s so quick up to the net, and he’s so quick getting the shots back.
“But before he was missing some. He’d miss a backhand, go through a bit of a patch where he missed some.
“Now he’s not missing, and he’s as fast, so he’s cutting the corners, he’s not missing, he’s getting the pressure right back on the other guys. Can he serve better? Well, ideally, in theory.
“But he’s doing absolutely everything that he possibly can. It’s a great success story of a guy who was sort of a skinny kid, can run around, but wow.”
De Minaur has dropped just one set so far in Melbourne, where he has beaten Mackenzie McDonald, Hamad Medjedovic, Frances Tiafoe and Bublik.
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Pat Cash says if he thinks Alex de Minaur can challenge Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz
Cash’s comparison of De Minaur and Agassi arrived after his discussion of the Australian and the two leading players on the ATP Tour.
When asked for his biggest storyline of this year’s Australian Open so far, Cash said: “Well being an Aussie I think it’s De Minaur isn’t it?
“I think everybody’s watching to see, has he got the quality, has he got the form to beat the two big boys? Who’s going to beat the two big boys?
“Jannik Sinner’s serving issues are interesting. But let’s say the two big boys, Sinner and Alcaraz, who’s next, who can challenge them?
“And I think Alex has really put his hand up now. He’s come a long way. He’s improved, he’s in the best form I’ve ever seen him, for sure. So obviously the Australians are getting pretty excited about that.
“But there’s always great stories at the Australian Open, and we kind of hope that somehow Alex can get through the match. It’s a tough one with Alcaraz.”
De Minaur really does have an unenviable task on his hands in Melbourne, where Alcaraz and indeed Sinner look like being the players to beat once more.
The Italian is flying high in the other half of the draw, with yet another Grand Slam final against the Spaniard very much on the cards.
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