Known for his speed and endurance, Australia’s Alex de Minaur has drawn record crowds at the 2026 Australian Open, where no Australian man has lifted the singles trophy since 1976. Now, the 6th seed opens up to Forbes Australia about his drive, and the legacy he hopes to leave.
He opened his Australian Open campaign with a straight-sets win over American Mackenzie McDonald, finishing the first round in one hour and 46 minutes. He followed that with a second-round victory over Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic after dropping the first set.
Now, the Sydney-born sixth seed prepares to face American Frances Tiafoe in the third round, a matchup that will test de Minaur’s form against one of the tour’s most physical competitors. With a potential quarter-final clash against world number one Carlos Alcaraz still looming, de Minaur is also navigating the growing pressure that comes with playing deep into the draw on home soil.
“There’s definitely a lot more off-court activities, off-court noise, and stuff that you’ve got to deal with than at any of the other Slams. But, at the same time, it comes with a lot of perks, right?,” says de Minaur.
While Ash Barty claimed the title in 2022, no Australian man has won the slam since Mark Edmondson’s title in 1976, a 50-year gap that hangs over every local contender at Melbourne Park. As the highest-ranked male Australian player at this year’s event, the 26-year-old is steadfast about his objective.
“Ultimately, I’m here as a competitor to hopefully go deep at the Australian Open. I’ve got to manage my energy levels and giving my time to everyone else, but also remind myself that I need to be selfish at times and think about myself, and what’s going to help me come out and perform.”
One thing ‘the Demon’ did permit himself to be distracted by this week, was a meet and greet with five Aussie kids.
“That was a pretty cool moment,” de Minaur tells Forbes Australia. “There is a constant focus for me on what the next generation looks like, whether it’s through Weet Bix, or through Hot Shots, through my Foundation, ultimately the kids are the future.”
Currently seeded number 6, de Minaur started playing tennis at just three years old. Those early lessons in Carrs Park, 20km south of Sydney, took place at the turn of the century, when Lleyton Hewitt – now de Minaur’s manager – reigned supreme on the court. It was Rusty, as Hewitt was known, that the young tennis star emulated.
“I was that little kid growing up, looking up to players and athletes,” says de Minaur. “Lleyton Hewitt was my idol. I think many, many Australian kids looked up to him.”
Paying that inspiration forward is the focus of the Alex de Minaur Foundation, set up in partnership with Tennis Australia in January 2025. Today, the non-profit provides young Aussie players with pathways toward professional tennis through the De Minaur Junior Tour.
Asked about the legacy he would like to leave on the game, the first Australian male to crack the Top 10 since the Hewitt days, lights up.
“I’ve got a set a standard and hopefully do my best to inspire the next generation the same way I was inspired as a little kid. If I can have a positive impact in their lives, then I’ll be very happy with that,” he says.
If AO 2026 attendance records are anything to go by, the Spanish/Aussie dual national is off to a cracking start. A record 200,000 tennis fans passed through the AO gates in opening week, before the tournament officially began, doubling attendance from 2025.
On day two of AO 2026 – when de Minaur defeated McDonald on Rod Laver Arena in 29-degree heat – 101,696 fans attended Melbourne Park over the course of the day/night, setting a tournament record.
“I’ve been here for 10 years now, and it does feel like home. You do start to become a lot more familiar,” says de Minaur. “I’ve had the same locker since the first day I was here, so all these things make it a whole lot easier.”
While his draw got slightly less challenging when Italian player Matteo Berettini bowed out earlier in th week, de Minaur acknowledges he still has some tough battles ahead of him. He plans to approach them strategically.
“I have the variety. I’ve always been happy to come to the net and I feel quite confident up there. But depending on who I’ve been playing, I haven’t always executed it in the right moments,” he says reflectively.
Now that he is through his opening week media and sponsorship commitments, the bilingual Aussie says he is firmly focused on the matches that will facilitate a spot in the finals.
“Competitive-wise, I’m feeling really good. I’m hitting the ball great. It’s by no means going to be easy, and I’m ready for the competition,” he says.
Nicknamed the ‘Speed Demon’ during the early days of his career, de Minaur says keeping his mind free of distractions, outrunning the pressure, and enjoying the process are key to meeting the challenges ahead.
“Every time I walk out there, I’m playing in front of a home crowd, that’s what makes it special and what it’s all about.”
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