The quarter-finals of a grand slam has been for Alex de Minaur what platform nine and three-quarters is for mere humans – impossible to get into. Aside from last year’s US Open, when he made it that far in a draw reduced by Covid-19, the fourth round has been the Australian’s ceiling.
He is on the verge again at Melbourne Park, after making the fourth round here for a second consecutive year, except that the draw has handed him Novak Djokovic. He does not think the nine-time Australian Open champion’s hamstring problem will make his assignment any easier.
