Alex De Minaur crushed by Jannik Sinner as Australia’s 50-year wait for a champion continues

Australia’s biggest hope, Alex de Minaur, reached the Australian Open quarterfinals for the first time in his career, becoming the first Australian male to do so since Nick Kyrgios in 2015. However, the world No. 8 was crushed by an imposing Jannik Sinner, the defending champion, who delivered a commanding 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 victory.

It was a complete rout by the Italian, who now boasts 12 consecutive wins at Melbourne Park and appears to be the favourite heading into his semifinal clash against Ben Shelton. De Minaur’s exit ended hopes of a local champion, extending a 50-year wait.

Read also

"I’m sure you would’ve put up a better performance": Alex de Minaur's interesting response to fan who criticises his performance against Jannik Sinner

The last Australian man to win the title was Mark Edmondson back in 1976, emerging victorious in an all-Aussie final against John Newcombe. Since then, four Australians have reached the final, but none managed to secure the trophy. The last to do so was Lleyton Hewitt in 2005, who lost in four sets to Russia’s Marat Safin.

"After playing some great tennis on home soil and gaining so much, you feel like you just have been slapped across the face, to be honest, to finish off like that. I think he’s probably my worst matchup, and you can see it in the head-to-head,” De Minaur said after his defeat.

"I know that whole crowd has got my back. They want me to go out there, make it competitive, try to make it into a match. It's frustrating that I can't do it. I'm doing my best, but I can't even make it into a match where the crowd can get behind and start supporting."

Read also

"I just tried to relax, recover and prepare" – Jannik Sinner bounces back to defeat Alex de Minaur and reach Australian Open semi-finals

The Australian Open holds the longest drought among Grand Slams without a local champion. In the French Open, the last home winner was Yannick Noah (1983); at Wimbledon, Andy Murray (2016); and at the US Open, Andy Roddick (2003). Murray famously ended a 77-year wait for a British champion when he won his first Wimbledon title in 2013.

Australian tennis fans had a reprieve from this negative streak in the women’s draw just three years ago when world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty ended a 44-year drought. She became the first Australian woman to win the title since Chris O’Neil in 1978.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Unlock your ultimate tennis experience—subscribe today for exclusive access to top stories.

Subscribe