Alex de Minaur, who had been on an impressive run at the Australian Open, was knocked out of the tournament in a crushing defeat on Wednesday.
The Australian tennis star, who reached the quarter-finals of his home Grand Slam for the first time in his career, was handed a straightforward loss by Italy’s Jannik Sinner.
The final score was 6-3, 6-2, 6-1, and De Minaur didn’t hold back in expressing how devastating the defeat felt.
A Stinging Loss for De Minaur
Speaking at his post-match press conference, a visibly heartbroken De Minaur admitted that the loss felt like a “slap in the face.”
Having fought so hard to reach the quarter-finals, De Minaur had high hopes going into the match, but Sinner’s clinical performance proved too much for him to handle.
Despite the disappointment, De Minaur reflected on his performance throughout the tournament and acknowledged the incredible pressure of being one of the top contenders.
De Minaur Hits Back at Criticism on Social Media
After the match, the Aussie was quick to respond to a harsh criticism from a fan on social media.
The user, known as @pavyg on X, had remarked that De Minaur lacked the self-belief to compete with Sinner, calling his performance “awful.”
De Minaur, still processing the loss, shot back with a witty retort: “Hey mate, it’s a shame that you never became a good enough player to experience playing Jannik.
I’m sure you would’ve put up a better performance and know exactly how to beat him.
Wishing you all the best!!!” His response quickly garnered support from other users, with many saying, “Game, set, and match, Alex.”
A Tough Rivalry with Sinner
De Minaur also shared his frustrations with his ongoing struggles against Sinner.
The defeat marked his tenth consecutive loss to the Italian, making Sinner his “worst matchup,” according to the Australian.
Despite the repeated setbacks, De Minaur remains determined to improve and find a way to break his losing streak against Sinner.
Reflecting on the Tournament: Positives and Setbacks
Despite the painful loss, De Minaur chose to look at the bigger picture.
He acknowledged the positives of his performance throughout the tournament and his ability to handle the immense expectations placed on him.
“Coming into this year in the top 10 with a lot of pressure, I think I handled it really well,” De Minaur said.
“The whole country wanted me to do well, and I wanted to do well here.
I would have loved to do more today, but this is what happens sometimes in tennis.”
De Minaur’s Determination to Keep Improving
De Minaur remained resolute, saying that the quarter-final was far from his peak, and that he had a lot more to give.
“I still think I’ve got more in the tank,” he said.
“So I’ll keep improving and sit down with my team to figure out a way to hurt Jannik on the court.”
The Australian made it clear that he isn’t giving up and is ready to push forward, despite the setback.
“Back to the drawing board, like I’ve done my whole career,” he concluded with defiance.
As the Australian Open continues, De Minaur’s journey may have ended for this year, but his determination to bounce back stronger is unwavering.
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