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Reigning Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz has tipped Alex de Minaur to make a deep run at the Australian Open, which starts at Melbourne Park on Sunday.
Key points:
De Minaur reached the top 10 for the first time in his career this weekAlcaraz says the Australian is riding a wave of confidenceThe Spaniard is motivated by the prospect of facing Novak Djokovic in the final
De Minaur has hit the ground running in 2024, securing wins over Novak Djokovic and other top-10 players, Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz, during an unbeaten singles campaign at the United Cup.
He also defeated world number two Alcaraz in an exhibition match on Rod Laver Arena last Wednesday night.
De Minaur entered the top 10 on the ATP rankings earlier this week, the first Australian to do so since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006.
Alcaraz said he expected de Minaur — who plays world number three Milos Raonic in the first round at Melbourne Park — to figure prominently in the Australian Open’s second week.
“He’s [a] really, really good player. He’s in a really good shape,” the Spaniard told a media conference at Melbourne Park.
“He has beaten Novak a few weeks ago. He has beaten big guys in the United Cup. I think he’s coming to Australian Open with a lot of confidence.
“I think he’s a player to look [at] this tournament. I think he’s going to reach final rounds.
“Obviously, he’s playing at home, so I think that is extra motivation for him. I think he’s going to do great here.”
Ten-time Australian Open winner Djokovic agreed with Alcaraz, saying de Minaur was in “great shape”.
“It didn’t come as a surprise to me,” Djokovic said about his United Cup loss to de Minaur.
“I know that he’s capable of doing big things. He’s one of the quickest — if not the quickest — tennis player we have in the game.
“He’s got [an] all-around tennis game. He can play equally well [in] defence and offence. He’s improving.”
Alcaraz’s ‘extra motivation’
Despite being troubled by a wrist injury during the United Cup, Djokovic remains favourite to win the men’s tournament, which would give the Serb a record 25th major singles trophy.
His Australian Open record was noted by Alcaraz, who described the world number one as “almost” unbeatable at Melbourne Park.
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The only way Djokovic and Alcaraz can meet in the men’s draw will be if they both advance to the final on January 28.
They have already met in the final of a major, with Alcaraz prevailing in last year’s Wimbledon decider via an epic five-set victory.
Second seed Alcaraz said he was relishing the prospect of facing Djokovic in Melbourne.
“It’s an extra motivation for me,” said Alcaraz, who won the 2022 US Open.
“I’m an ambitious guy. I always want to play against the best players in the world, to see what is my level.”
Alcaraz, who missed last year’s Australian Open due to injury when ranked number one in the world, plays French veteran Richard Gasquet in the first round.
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