De Minaur feels “beaten in the face” after stinging Australian Open defeat | Alex de Minaur

Alex de Minaur still believes he is good enough to win a grand slam despite his demoralizing defeat to Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open quarter-finals, which he described as a slap in the face. The Italian took just 108 minutes to end the Australian’s best run at Melbourne Park on Wednesday night, winning 6-3, 6-2, 6-1.

“You feel like you’ve just been punched in the face, to be honest, to finish like that,” De Minaur said, adding that it was made worse by the fact that it was in front of a big crowd at Rod Laver Arena. “If anything, it’s frustrating that I can’t do it. I’m doing my best, but I can’t make it a fight where the crowd can get behind and start supporting.”

The Australian was broken six times by world no. 1 and won only 10 points on the Sinner serve. In 10 meetings between the pair, the Italian has won every single one going back to 2019.

“It’s been too many times to play him and see the same thing, so I’m not even surprised anymore when I face him. Fights like these happen,” De Minaur said, using the words “bloody good” to describe his opponent. “With the conditions a little slower and a little later at night, it’s pretty hard to make him miss or hurt him.”

De Minaur will maintain his top 10 ranking after the Australian Open, where he reached the quarter-finals for the first time. But he has now been eliminated at that stage in each of the past four grand slams and admits he still doesn’t have the answers against top players.

“I just have to sit with my team and figure out a way to hurt Jannik on the pitch, that’s ultimately the way we have to look at it and find different ways because at the moment we don’t,” he said . “So back to the drawing board like I’ve done my whole career.”

The Italian said every match was different and momentum could swing, but he felt he was as ready as he could be for the challenge of the mobile Australian. “I always have to expect something different from him. You know, every time we play, you never know what’s coming. So I have to be very prepared for every single thing,” he said. “Today I was prepared.”

The 25-year-old Australian – who recovered from a hip injury last year and described himself as in top physical condition at this tournament – said he still believes he can win a grand slam title. “Right now my worst matchup on tour is probably Jannik, there’s a head-to-head that’s not lying, right?” De Minaur said.

“If I’m in another side of the draw, another small section, who knows? I really think I’ll give myself opportunities and I don’t think my peak is reaching the quarter-finals in a slam. I see other players who have made it, made semis, made finals, and I believe I can be among them. If they’ve been able to make it, why not me?”