De Minaur on newest Alcaraz defeat: 'I'm taking part in out of my consolation zone'

Match Response

De Minaur on newest Alcaraz defeat: ‘I am taking part in out of my consolation zone’

Australian misplaced to Alcaraz in straight units

January 27, 2026

Dejected and deflated, the place can Alex de Minaur flip after one other sobering defeat to Carlos Alcaraz?

The sixth seed walked onto courtroom to face the World No. 1 within the Australian Open quarter-finals having dropped only one set all fortnight. De Minaur had seemed assured in straight-sets victories in opposition to Frances Tiafoe and Alexander Bublik, and from some corners of the tennis world there was quiet perception that the Australian would possibly lastly be capable of hassle Alcaraz and enhance on his 0-5 Lexus ATP Head2Head report in opposition to the Spaniard.

For a quick spell, that perception felt justified. De Minaur matched Alcaraz’s depth early and stayed aggressive by way of a high-quality first set, energising the group inside Rod Laver Area. However as soon as the highest seed moved forward, the competition rapidly tilted in acquainted vogue. Alcaraz surged clear to seal a 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 victory in two hours and quarter-hour, as soon as once more exposing the hole De Minaur continues to be striving to shut in opposition to the easiest.

The end result left the Australian No. 1 with extra questions than solutions, not about effort or intent, however about execution on the highest degree.

“By way of mentality or the way in which I dedicated to hitting the ball at the moment, it is what I got down to do. I simply cannot actually execute it. I did not actually execute it for the entire match,” De Minaur mentioned on his efficiency. “There was some good elements on the market, however total, I am taking part in out of my consolation zone and at instances out of my pores and skin.

“After all, for me to take that subsequent step, I’ve bought to be snug in taking part in that kind of manner for the entire match, and that is what it takes, to take it to the subsequent degree, particularly in opposition to these kind of guys.”

De Minaur has now exited on the quarter-final stage of a serious on seven events, shedding six instances and withdrawing as soon as by way of damage. Whereas the 26-year-old believes he’s transferring nearer to his peak degree, sustaining it throughout a whole match in opposition to the easiest stays the problem.

“You simply maintain practising, maintain working at it, maintain attending to the stage of committing and taking part in at that degree extra ceaselessly,” De Minaur mentioned on how he makes the subsequent breakthrough. “Then some tweaks right here and there that is going to permit me to extend ball velocity, as a result of in the intervening time the way in which my pure groundstrokes are, they’re fairly flat, and it is fairly troublesome for me.

“There’s a entire lot of threat for me to play at a really excessive ball velocity, and I really feel like Jannik or Carlos, they’ve so many revolutions on the ball that they are capable of not solely play at a better velocity but in addition have their consistency, as a result of they’re capable of get that spin that helps the ball come down and create completely different angles as effectively.”

Australia is proud, @alexdeminaur 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/8i3B4pHoWp

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2026

De Minaur has made vital progress lately. The ten-time tour-level titlist is competing at a career-high No. 6 within the PIF ATP Rankings and has certified for the Nitto ATP Finals in every of the previous two seasons. But he has been unable to make a notable impression in opposition to Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner, shedding all 19 matches contested between the 2, a supply of mounting frustration.

“You attempt to do the proper issues, you attempt to carry on enhancing, however when the outcomes do not come or the scoreline would not replicate these enhancements, then after all you’re feeling fairly deflated,” De Minaur mentioned.

Alcaraz, who’s aiming to finish the Profession Grand Slam this fortnight, has but to drop a set in Melbourne and has reached the semi-finals for the primary time. De Minaur additional acknowledged the problem posed by the six-time main champion.

“I am most likely hitting the ball greater than I’ve hit beforehand in these kind of matches, however I am nonetheless not capable of sort of hit by way of him,” De Minaur mentioned. “Then he is clearly bought the power to generate on command. In the event you depart one ball quick, then the purpose’s over. So he is positively taking part in at a really excessive degree. I will be very intrigued to see how the remainder of the match performs out.

“I do suppose he is taking part in at a really excessive degree. In the end, No. 1 on the planet for a motive.”