Australian star could reach career-high No.5 after United Cup
“Ultimately, these are the goals I will pursue. Whether I achieve this goal next week, at the end of the year, or in the middle of the year, I will look forward to hopefully finishing the year on a higher level than last year. That is my main goal.”
Team Australia captain Hewitt also said Minaur would be better after winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 against Hurkacz on Friday.
“Alex had to dig deep and find a way, and he was able to stay in the opening set long enough to win it,” Hewitt said.
“And I thought it was a great performance from Alex and perfect preparation for him to go to Melbourne now.”
This was a difficult tournament for de Minaur’s 19-year-old teammate Maya Joint, who was seeded for the Australian Open.
Joint was able to return to draws against the Czech Republic and Poland after a flu case earlier in the week caused her to miss her opening match against Norway’s Malene Helgo.
Maya Joint in action against Poland’s Iga Swiatek.Credit: Getty Images
However, she found herself facing two-time grand slam singles champion Barbora Krejcikova in the first and six-time champion Iga Swiatek in the second, losing both in straight sets.
This means Joint travels to the Adelaide International next week and is still trying to get his first win of 2026.
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“Maya put up a great fight,” Hewitt said. “His kicking the ball tonight was a lot better than it was a few days ago and it was a tough one for him, of course he cheated and had a few days off before he came.
“I think he is in much better shape than he was a few days ago because of the bigger picture of the Australian Open and his match next week.”
Playing the tournament for the first time, Joint said it was a valuable learning experience.
“I’m so lucky to learn from all these players here,” he said. “The matches I played were all very high quality, I think it was perfect preparation for AO.”
Tiley dares to dream of drought-breaking Demon Open victory
Marc McGowan
Australian Open chief Craig Tiley says he dreams of Alex de Minaur or another local hope ending the country’s 50-year men’s title drought since Mark Edmondson’s shock win in 1976.
Ash Barty won her third and final grand slam singles title at the 2022 Open, becoming the first Australian woman to do so since Chris O’Neil 44 years ago.
De Minaur defeated Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz on Friday night.Credit: Getty Images
It’s been more than two decades since former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt became the last Australian male player to reach a singles final at the Melbourne Major, losing his last in 2005 to Marat Safin in four sets.
Only three Australians – John Marks (1978), Kim Warwick (1980) and Pat Cash (1987 and 1988) – have reached the Australian Open men’s singles final since 212th-ranked Edmondson stunned seven-time grand slam champion John Newcombe.
De Minaur is the country’s best chance of making it this year or in the near future and will be in the top six.
“I spend my life dreaming of an Australian in the final every night,” Tiley said. “Probably the highlight of this event for me was Ash winning the final and then of course Rafa too [Nadal] following that – and that was our famously difficult COVID year.
“Alex is playing the best tennis he has and he is coming in. I watched his match against Hubie Hurkacz. [at the United Cup] last night [Friday]It was really great, it was a very solid match and when he plays like that and gets forward and gets match practice under his belt, he has a good event.
“A lot will depend on the draw, as always, but I’m excited for her and she’s got a little more spring in her step than I saw before coming to the Australian Open.”
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Tiley, who has not yet announced whether he will remain CEO of Tennis Australia or accept the same role in the United States, predicts this year’s Australian Open will be the biggest and most well-attended tournament ever, offering a record $111.5 million in prize money.
He backed Australian tennis fans as the “most educated” in the world, but warned anyone who crossed the line would be kicked out and banned.
“We’ve said it very clearly, and I’ll say it again, if anyone comes onto the course with the intention of disrupting anyone else’s enjoyment of the event, that person will be removed,” Tiley said.
“We’ll welcome their removal and won’t let them come back because it’s about enjoyment. Our focus is for every fan to have great fun and feel really good about the experience.”
Tiley also said he would continue to monitor Victoria’s dire bushfire situation and offer assistance through the Australian Tennis Foundation.
“This is a very difficult time, especially for those directly affected by the bushfires… and we will do all we can to support and help,” he said.
