It has been a topsy-turvy campaign for Alex de Minaur.
The Australian began the year in great form, reaching the Australian Open quarter-finals and winning the Rotterdam Open.
Since then, the ‘Demon’s’ form has petered out.
Early exits at a plethora of ATP events have seen De Minaur’s status as a true Grand Slam contender stutter.
Will Alex de Minaur finish 2026 ranked inside the top five?
De Minaur’s questionable form has reared its ugly head throughout the North American hard-court swing, as evidenced by defeats to lower-ranked players like Cameron Norrie and Arthur Fils.
However, the Australian now has the perfect chance to turn his season around and silence any detractors.
Can Alex de Minaur finally advance past the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam?
The quarter-final stage at Grand Slams has been a key stumbling block for De Minaur in the past.
The 27-year-old has appeared in seven major quarter-finals, failing to reach the semi-finals once [one quarter-final loss was a walkover].
| Tournament | Opponent | Score |
| 2020 US Open | Dominic Thiem | 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 |
| 2024 Roland Garros | Alexander Zverev | 6-4, 7-6, 6-4 |
| 2024 Wimbledon | Novak Djokovic | WALKOVER |
| 2024 US Open | Jack Draper | 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 |
| 2025 Australian Open | Jannik Sinner | 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 |
| 2025 US Open | Felix Auger-Aliassime | 4-6, 7-6, 7-5, 7-6 |
| 2026 Australian Open | Carlos Alcaraz | 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 |
De Minaur’s greatest opportunity to reach a major semi-final presented itself at last year’s US Open.
The Australian faced 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and was the clear favourite to advance.
It was not to be, as De Minaur was beaten 4-6, 7-6, 7-5, 7-6 in New York.
“Right now I’m looking at this like a wasted opportunity. It’s tough,” De Minaur said during his post-match press conference.
“There’s no other way I’m probably gonna deal with this, but just seeing it straight, and that’s what today was. Today was an opportunity to break new ground. I was nowhere near the level I needed to be at.
“That’s frustrating, because you don’t get these chances often.”
De Minaur can prove his critics wrong by reaching the semi-finals of this year’s US Open.
Alex de Minaur must prove that he can challenge the very best at Grand Slams
Too often, Alex de Minaur has been comfortably dealt with at Grand Slam events by the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and the like.
De Minaur needs to prove to his fans that he is capable of pushing [and beating] these high-ranking players within the five-set format.
Who will win this year’s US Open men’s singles event?
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De Minaur has only won one set in his six major quarter-final appearances; against Felix Auger-Aliassime at the 2025 US Open.
The Australian has also never defeated Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, or Alexander Zverev in a Grand Slam.
Could the 2026 US Open be the tournament where De Minaur steps up to the plate and hits a home run?
Only time will tell.
