Alex de Minaur, currently ranked No. 10 in the world, believes that he is in the best position to overcome Andrey Rublev and break the fourth-round barrier at the Australian Open. In his last two appearances at Melbourne Park, de Minaur was eliminated at this stage of the tournament. However, he is determined to change the narrative this time and advance further to the quarterfinals.
In 2022, de Minaur was defeated in straight sets by Jannik Sinner in the fourth round. The following year, he had to face the eventual champion and world No. 1, Novak Djokovic, who allowed him to win only five games. Reflecting on his past performances, de Minaur acknowledged that he had not played the type of match he wanted to in those instances. Despite these setbacks, he remains optimistic about his chances in the current tournament.
Over the past 12 months, de Minaur has seen significant progress in his rankings, climbing up to the 10th spot in the world. This year, he has an advantage at his home Slam – rest. In his opening round match against Milos Raonic, the Canadian retired hurt after just two sets and two games. De Minaur then went on to defeat Matteo Arnaldi and Flavio Cobolli, both in straight sets. He is feeling physically great and believes he is the freshest he has ever been at this stage of the tournament.
De Minaur’s experience and understanding of Grand Slam tournaments have taught him the importance of pacing oneself. He considers the first week as a time to navigate through matches, no matter the length or difficulty. However, he recognizes that the second week is when players truly showcase their best tennis. To de Minaur, this marks the tail end of the tournament and where the real battle begins. As the matches progress, opponents typically possess higher rankings, providing a greater challenge. Despite this, de Minaur eagerly awaits the battles to come.
De Minaur has faced Andrey Rublev five times on the tour, with the Australian currently holding a slight advantage with a 3-2 edge. The pair met twice in 2023, with de Minaur emerging victorious in Rotterdam, while Rublev claimed the win in Paris. De Minaur acknowledges Rublev’s immense firepower and the lethal nature of his forehand. The key to neutralizing Rublev’s strengths, according to de Minaur, is to prevent him from hitting forehands, especially from the middle of the court. His game plan will be focused on disrupting Rublev’s rhythm and dictating the pace of the match.
Alex de Minaur is determined to break the fourth-round barrier at the Australian Open and reach the quarterfinals. With his improved ranking, physical fitness, and knowledge gained from previous tournaments, he feels confident in his abilities. De Minaur acknowledges the challenge presented by Andrey Rublev, with whom he has a closely contested history. However, he is prepared to execute a game plan to counter Rublev’s strengths and secure victory. As the tournament progresses, the tennis world eagerly watches de Minaur’s performance, hoping to witness the breakthrough moment he has been striving for.
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