Alex de Minaur’s Australian Open campaign last year was on life support in the third round.
After losing the first set to Argentine left-hander Francisco Cerundola, de Minaur hit a clutch reflex volley at the net in the 12th game of the next set to help him reach the tie-break and avoid going down two sets.
But something even more important was going on in de Minaur’s mind. The pressure and expectation of being Australia’s leading man weighed on him the first time he played at home.
Alex de Minaur says winning the Australian Open would be a dream come true.Credit: Penny Stephens
De Minaur escaped in four sets on his way to a career-best quarter-final at Melbourne Park, but dealing with being the nation’s great hope – and his own dream of becoming Australian Open champion – is a constant struggle.
“I think it’s probably going to get harder and harder over the years because there are more eyes and expectations and people wanting me to do well,” he told this masthead ahead of his first-round match against American Mackenzie McDonald this afternoon at Rod Laver Arena.
“I feel the love, and of course, I’m in a great position. It’s still about not associating the home game with pressure. It’s no secret that there’s no place I’d like to play better than here in Australia. I think winning the Australian Open one day will be a dream come true.”
“But at the same time, I have to not associate it with pressure in my brain, because that’s the beginning of the fall.”
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