Aussie Tennis legend Pat Rafter has warned Alex de Minaur about the threat American Alex Michelsen possesses in the Australian Open as the 25-year-old looks to emulate a Lleyton Hewitt feat. De Minaur was in stellar form heading into his round three clash, before battling past Fransisco Cerundolo in four sets after a wayward serving match.
The No.8 seed acknowledged his struggles in the clash, but gestured throughout the contest he was finding his electric feet again after showcasing his quick skills around the court. De Minaur is the last remaining Aussie in the men’s and women’s singles draw and the nation is rallying behind the grand slam hope.
De Minaur is hoping to become the first Aussie male to win the Australian Open since Mark Edmondson in 1976. However, former World No.1 and Aussie tennis great Rafter has warned de Minaur not to take his next opponent lightly.
De Minaur will face young American Michelsen in the fourth round as he looks to reach his first ever Australian Open quarter-final. The Australian is also looking to become the first Australian male to reach the quarter-final of four straight grand slam tournaments since Hewitt in 2005.
And Rafter has claimed de Minaur has to be cautious of Michelsen’s powerful groundstrokes when he plays on Rod Laver Arena. “I back him against Michelsen,” Rafter said ahead of the round of 16 showdown.
“I know Michelson’s got a really big game. Can he keep it together against someone like Alex? I think it’s a bad match-up for Michelsen personally. But this guy’s got a really big game and, if he can keep it together, he can cause a lot of destruction, I think Michelsen.”
Alex de Minaur cautious of Alex Michelsen’s game
De Minaur is accustomed to Michelsen’s game having played the American twice last year. De Minaur was too strong for Michelsen at Roland Garros having dismantled the 20-year-old on a slow clay cout. However, there only other meeting was on hard court and Michelsen defeated de Minaur at Los Cabos.
“He’s been playing really well. He’s a dangerous opponent with a lot of confidence now. He’s taken some big scalps this week, so I’m ready for a battle,” de Minaur said. “He’s going to go out there with no fear. I’m going to do my best to make it difficult for him.”
-Regardless, de Minaur will fancy himself to grind out a win against the American having pointed out in his last post-match press conference he was finding his feet once again after a disrupted 2024 season. De Minaur has returned in the 2025 season fitter and stronger after overcoming a brutal hip injury that curtailed his US Open campaign.
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Alex de Minaur learning from round three struggles
De Minaur admitted he wasn’t at his best having battled past Cerundolo in the third round. Cerundolo took the first set, but started to physically struggle in the third.
The Aussie showcased his trademark grit and determination to get on top of his opponent and battered his rival into submission. And de Minaur admitted he felt it was a good moment for him at Melbourne Park.
“I reckon this is probably the first match that I’ve played here in Oz where I’ve felt, like today, that I didn’t feel comfortable,” he told reporters after his third round win.
“I felt all of a sudden a little bit of pressure playing. I didn’t know what to do. I just told myself to go out there and compete. A part of me knew that at some point there was going to be always a match where pressure was going to be there and the nerves were going to be there, kind of the expectation was going to be there… I just told myself to go out there, compete. Geez, I’d rather win ugly any day over losing pretty, right? Ultimately I lived to fight another day. My next one I’ll make sure I bring a better level.”
If De Minaur wins and reaches his first ever Australian Open quarter-final, he is likely to face World No.1 Jannik Sinner. The Aussie has failed to defeat the Italian and is 0-9 against the reigning Australian Open champion.
