Alex De Minaur believes the beautiful unpredictability of sport means he stands a chance when he faces defending champion Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open tomorrow.
Home hope De Minaur has lost all nine of their previous meetings, winning just two sets, and is the rank outsider when they meet on Rod Laver Arena.
He will be roared on by the Melbourne crowd, however, and the 25-year-old is confident he can cause an upset.
A win that meant more 🫶🇦🇺
The moment Alex de Minaur reached his first AO quarterfinal and his mum Esther couldn’t contain her emotion 🥹#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/8riWdzOUVc
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2025
“The great thing about tennis is that once you step out on the court, you both start at 0-0, right? It’s a whole new day, a whole new match, and anything can happen,” De Minaur said.
“Sports is unpredictable. That’s exactly the mindset I’m going to have going into that match.
“I’m looking forward to it. That’s the matches I want to be playing. Ultimately, if there is anything, it’s going to be my first match this whole tournament where I’m the underdog and don’t have all the pressure and expectation of, you know, having to win.”
If there is reason for optimism it is that Sinner admitted to feeling unwell in his previous match, a four-set win over Holger Rune played in the blazing heat of the afternoon. This encounter comes under the lights in what will be cooler conditions, in theory helping the Italian.
📰 Table Of Contents
Will Big Ben call time on Sonego’s run?
The preceding match sees Ben Shelton face off against Lorenzo Sonego.
Big-serving Shelton reached this stage two years ago and then the last four in New York late in 2023 so has the edge in experience but he certainly won’t underestimate the Italian.
“There is a whole new matchup in front of you, and if somebody’s in the quarterfinals or semifinals, they’re close to the best version of themselves,” the American said.
“I think, for me, having a game plan going in, not just going out there and whaling on the ball and seeing what happens … but being able to trust yourself and your fitness this late in the tournament.”
On the women’s side, second seed Iga Swiatek will look to maintain her blistering form when she takes on American Emma Navarro.
Swiatek has conceded just 11 games in reaching the quarter-finals in Melbourne while Navarro has had to slog her way through four three-setters.
Their only previous meeting came in 2018, in Charleston, a match Swiatek won 6-0 6-2, but she doesn’t believe anything can be read into that.
The Pole said: “I’m not going to count this. For sure, I have to treat Emma as a player that I never played. We both made huge progress since that time that we faced each other.”
Keys favourite against Svitolina
In the day’s opening match, Madison Keys meets Elena Svitolina.
The Ukrainian has looked good so far in Melbourne and is hoping to get the better of a fellow tour veteran.
“Now it’s actually where the tournament starts,” she said. “You’re playing against the players who have been here many times and know how to deal with different kind of pressure situations.”
Order of Play
Rod Laver Arena
From 1130 am local time
(19) M Keys v (28) E Svitolina
(8) E Navarro v (2) I Swiatek
(21) B Shelton v L Sonego
From 7.30pm local time
(1) J Sinner v (8) A De Minaur
How to Watch
The Australian Open will be shown in the US on ESPN and the Tennis Channel. Check the listings for start times.
Predictions
Madison Keys v Elena Svitolina
Svitolina’s fighting spirit cannot be ignored and she will have enormous motivation to succeed. However, Keys has the bigger game and if she can find her range, she ought to have too much for the Ukrainian.
Keys to win in three sets
Emma Navarro v Iga Swiatek
We’d take Swiatek at the best of times but her freshness stemming from four emphatic wins so far gives her an added edge. Navarro has had a lot of court time and we think she’ll run out of gas.
Swiatek to win in straight sets
Ben Shelton v Lorenzo Sonego
Shelton’s record at hard court majors over the past two years has been strong, helped by his enormous serve. Sonego will make it interesting but we can’t look past the American.
Shelton to win in four sets
Jannik Sinner v Alex De Minaur
De Minaur is a gritty competitor but lacks the tools to trouble the very best. Assuming Sinner is fully recovered from his health scare, there should only be one winner.
Sinner to win in straight sets
