In Alex de Minaur’s own words, his quarter-final loss at the US Open was a “wasted opportunity”.

His shattered reaction to his 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) defeat to Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime across more than four hours of drama was another illustration of how desperately he wants more.

The six-time major quarter-finalist has established a well-earned reputation as one of the world’s best and most dependable tennis stars. He is Australia’s best men’s player since Lleyton Hewitt.

De Minaur joins world No.1 Jannik Sinner and fellow grand slam champions Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic as the only men to reach at least the last eight at five (or more) of the past seven majors. That is elite company, yet Australia’s standard-bearer knows he does not belong in that conversation.

Djokovic has won more major titles than any man in history, while Sinner and Alcaraz are on pace to do the unthinkable and be just as dominant as Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer before them.

Meanwhile, de Minaur is coming to terms with being unable to capitalise on his greatest grand slam chance.

Alex de Minaur lost his sixth grand slam quarter-final against Felix Auger-Aliassime at the US Open.Credit: AP

This was only the second time de Minaur faced a lower-ranked opponent in the last eight at a major, but he........

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