Alex de Minaur is one of the most affable figures on the ATP Tour, with many neutrals desperate for him to succeed.
And, when the Australian Open rolls around, that desperation only increases.
Seeing a hometown hero do well in their own country always makes for a fairytale story, yet the 26-year-old continues to falter at the same stage.
He is yet to live up to the expectations that John McEnroe placed on him back in 2019.
John McEnroe’s 2019 prediction about Alex de Minaur
Speaking on Channel Nine over seven years ago now, the legendary American player-turned-pundit offered his verdict on Alex de Minaur’s sensational Australian Open campaign.
After all, at just 19 years old, he had surged into the third round, setting up a mouth-watering clash with Rafael Nadal.
Will Alex de Minaur ever reach a Grand Slam semifinal?
What is Alex de Minaur’s ceiling?
Although he would go on to lose that encounter, McEnroe was still impressed by what he had seen.
He delivered his assessment, before issuing a prediction that has only half come true: “There’s very few guys that come along that play with that intensity, that effort that Alex de Minaur plays with.
“The good news is he’s 19, so the body bounces back a lot quicker.
“The fact that he had to go five sets against a qualifier and Rafa, who hasn’t played much, won easily and likes to make matches physical.
“The question is how is he (Nadal) going to feel? He hasn’t played a tournament since the US Open. Will the body, like last year, betray him?
What does Alex de Minaur need to change to challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner?
“That’s really, to me, de Minaur’s hope this particular event.
“I mean, the guy’s coming along for sure (as a future) top-10 player, possibly, to me, a multiple grand slam winner if he can fill out a little bit more.”
Alex de Minaur’s record at the Grand Slams
Having lost in the quarter-finals of last month’s Australian Open, De Minaur has already made positive steps to bounce back.
After all, that’s exactly the kind of person that he is, despite having suffered some truly heartbreaking losses over the last year or so.
Despite this upbeat attitude, internally, the Aussie will be furious, having let slip another opportunity to surpass his quarter-final hoodoo.
He has now reached that stage of a Grand Slam on seven occasions, and has never won.
Losing to Carlos Alcaraz, who would go on to win the title, is nothing to be ashamed of. However, it has extended De Minaur’s torrid record against the Spaniard and Jannik Sinner, his great rival.
If the world number six is ever to fulfil McEnroe’s prediction, these are the two players he will start having to challenge more regularly on these biggest stages.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
