![\"Alex](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/77a702f3e66f28d13f2a8fea8dec610b3f66712c.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nTomic, 33, spoke after his win on Monday about how he was striving to return to the top 100, but was no match for Fery from the outset. He offered only a \u201cnot today\u201d to journalists afterwards.<\/p>\n
However, it was a more successful day for countryman Dane Sweeny, who is just one victory away from qualifying for his home major for the second time in three years. The world No.182 beat Swiss opponent Jerome Kym 6-4, 6-4 to set up a clash with Italian veteran Stefano Travaglia.<\/p>\n
Australian doubles specialist Storm Hunter is also into final-round qualifying after eliminating No.27 seed Lola Radivojevic 6-4, 7-6 (7-1).<\/p>\n
Hunter, who reached the round of 32 two years ago, will need to overcome American 11th seed Taylor Townsend to contest the main draw for a seventh time.<\/p>\n
But James McCabe, who qualified for Wimbledon last year, lost a hard-fought battle with emerging Norwegian teenager Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, going down 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10-6) in two-and-a-half hours. Olivia Gadecki, Tina Smith and Lizette Cabrera also bowed out of contention.<\/p>\n
The grand slam finalist that Cash says should be an example for Demon<\/p>\n
Australian tennis great Pat Cash rates Alex de Minaur as good a chance of making this year\u2019s Australian Open final as anyone not named Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz.<\/p>\n
The 1987 Wimbledon champion and two-time Australian Open finalist used triple grand slam runner-up Casper Ruud as an example of what was possible for world No.6 de Minaur, who reached the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park for the first time last year.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Alex de Minaur is among the top contenders for the Australian Open title.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Cash\u2019s comments come as de Minaur said on Wednesday that he dreamt of winning his home grand slam and ending Australia\u2019s 50-year title drought since Mark Edmondson\u2019s shock win in 1976.<\/p>\n
No Australian man has made the Australian Open final since Lleyton Hewitt \u2013 who is part of \u201cTeam Demon\u201d \u2013 lost in four sets to Russia\u2019s Marat Safin.<\/p>\n
Loading<\/p>\n
\u201cIs Ruud any better than de Minaur? No, absolutely not,\u201d Cash told this masthead.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s one [Alcaraz] and two [Sinner], and then there\u2019s the rest. Demon is in the rest of the group. Before, there was one and two, and then there were a handful of others, and then there was Demon. But Demon\u2019s joined that next group now.<\/p>\n
\u201cSinner and Alcaraz, let\u2019s take them aside. Two players don\u2019t make up a semi-final. You need four, right?<\/p>\n
\u201cDemon\u2019s fallen at the hurdle of the quarter-finals [six times], but you\u2019ve got to keep knocking on the door. There\u2019s a bunch of them who will be looking for a semi-final berth somewhere along the line.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Pat](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/e7da8ff4d16e98f7d63f3e2daa4c69e5fbcce3af.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Pat Cash won the men\u2019s Wimbledon title in 1987, on top of making the Australian Open final in 1987 and 1988.Credit: Penny Stephens<\/p>\n
Cash said de Minaur was the type of player you wanted to have fighting for your life, and admired how he had continued to develop his game.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis speed, determination and mental focus are exceptional,\u201d Cash said.<\/p>\n