The time for talk is over. Will Demon make a drastic call?

July 7, 2026 — 7:00pm

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Alex de Minaur is trapped in a vicious cycle of self-castigation.

His sustained excellence across several years – a single-digit world ranking, seven grand slam quarter-finals and 11 titles – not only heightened external expectation, but particularly, his own.

Twelve men made a major final in the past five years, and just half of them won a title at one of tennis’ four biggest events in that period. Only Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud reached multiple finals.

De Minaur desperately wants to be among that group.

The world No.6 has reached the last eight at each of the grand slams, but that record is becoming more of a noose around his neck than a source of a pride, in much the same way as it has for Russia’s Andrey Rublev.

Alcaraz’s injury absence from Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, and de Minaur’s inability to capitalise, has sent the Australian spiralling emotionally. He lost in the third round to Jakub Mensik in Paris in May, and the fourth round to Flavio Cobolli in London on Monday.

On both occasions, not only was Alcaraz – the champion who beat de Minaur in the Australian Open quarter-finals in January – not there, but a raft........

© Brisbane Times