One moment by the world No 1 against Alex de Minaur showed he is on a different plane to almost everyone else
One of the biggest matches of Alex de Minaur’s career was already falling from his grasp when his opponent, Carlos Alcaraz, compounded his misery with a selfish stroke of genius. Midway through the third set, the result all but a formality, De Minaur pounded an aggressive forehand down the line and flitted forward to the net.
Against nearly any other player in the world, the Australian would have won that point. Against Alcaraz, the world No 1, De Minaur watched on helplessly as the Spaniard chased down the ball and slid to his right, whipping a forehand down-the-line pass that did not come back. De Minaur could not hide his rueful smile.
Over the past 10 days, the sixth seed has played some of the best tennis of his already incredibly successful career. He reached his second career Australian Open quarter-final by dismantling the former top 10 player Frances Tiafoe and the newest top 10 player Alexander Bublik in back-to back straight-sets wins. He had been clinical, rolling through his section of the draw with just one set lost in five prior matches.
De Minaur’s progress in this tournament was a continuation of his upward momentum. Yet the fact remains that the No 6 and No 1 in the ATP rankings at times appear to be competing in different sports. At no point in his 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 win over the Australian did Alcaraz even appear to look uncomfortable.
