Alex de Minaur has become the first Aussie man to reach the fourth round in five-straight years since the Australian Open moved to Melbourne Park, after producing a stunning statement against 29th seed Frances Tiafoe on Friday night. And the Aussie tennis star was boosted by the exits of two rivals in the top 15.
The Aussie World No.6 produced one of the most dominant displays of his career, dispatching American rival Tiafoe 6-3 6-4 7-5. He’ll next face 10th seed Alexander Bublik, who beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.
Alex de Minaur (centre) made Australian Open history as top rivals Andrey Rublev (L) and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (R) departed. Image: Getty
De Minaur’s win put him into the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the fifth year running – a feat that not even Aussie legends like Lleyton Hewitt, Pat Rafter and Mark Philippoussis ever achieved. John Newcombe was the last Aussie man to do it from 1969 to 1976, but de Minaur is the first since the grand slam moved to Melbourne Park.
Hewitt made at least the fourth round seven times (between 2000 and 2012), but never did it in five-straight years. “Frances is a hell of a competitor, a hell of a player, it was a hell of a battle,” de Minaur said.
“I played some of my best tennis in the tournament for two and a half sets, and he just lifted it when he needed it. In my brain, I don’t associate playing in Australia with pressure, I associate it with just excitement.
“I’ve known since I was a little kid this is where I wanted to be, where I wanted to play, in front of packed crowds. I’m truly fortunate to be in this position. Yes, it gets stressful at times, but that’s only because I want it so bad, so I’ll do my best.”
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (L) became the seventh player to retire hurt at the Australian Open.
(Quinn Rooney via Getty Images)Three players in top 15 crash out of Australian Open
De Minaur’s win came after two other players in the top 15 were sent packing. Russian 13th seed Andrey Rublev – who beat de Minaur in the fourth round of the Australian Open in 2024 – lost in straight sets to 18th seed Francisco Cerundolo.
And 14th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina became the seventh player to retire hurt in the first week of the tournament. The Spaniard was trailing 1-6 1-6 against 19th seed Tommy Paul when he was forced to call it quits with a leg injury.
Iva Jovic stunned World No.7 Jasmine Paolini at the Australian Open.
(VCG via Getty Images)
In the women’s draw there was an even bigger shock when 18-year-old American Iva Jovic beat World No.7 Jasmine Paolini. The teenager stunned the French Open and Wimbledon finalist 6-2 7-6 (7-3) for the biggest win of her young career.