Pain-free De Minaur is ‘back’ – right in time for AO trophy charge

Alex de Minaur, the best hope for Australia to win a singles trophy in 2025, has already taken a brilliant first step towards what would be miraculous history by declaring he’s “back” – and perhaps most importantly, pain-free.

De Minaur struggled through the 2024 calendar with moderate success until Wimbledon.

There, following several minor titles, the 25-year-old fell foul of a cartilage tear high on his right hip. It would have ruled most out of playing, but De Minaur slogged on until he lost in the quarterfinals in England.

He did the same in the season proper too – when doctors asked if he wanted surgery, which would have sidelined him for up to four months, he opted against the procedure. Instead, the Aussie managed his pain and injury rehab through the tail end of the year; he even made the US Open quarters too before falling to Jack Draper, 6-3 7-5 6-2.

A week ago, De Minaur gave an update every Aussie fan will be thrilled to hear.

“This was the old me. I’ve got my legs back, everybody,” he said after the United Cup.

“I’m back,” the world number eight then added emphatically.

“I struggled with an injury that sidelined me and took away one of my biggest assets, which was my movement… it’s taken me a very long time.

“It had been a long time since I felt my feet moving as quickly… doing all of that without pain was a really good feeling. Gave me some goosebumps because it felt good to finally be back at that level.”

It’s all perfect timing. Come Sunday, Australia’s eighth-ranked “Demon” will chase history – he wants to become the first Australian men’s player since his mentor Lleyton Hewitt to reach the Grand Slam final in Melbourne.

“Absolutely [he can win the Australian Open],” Hewitt told AAP when asked about the chance.

“I’m just so happy for Alex to be back playing like he wants to play again.

“Only probably his close-knit team know exactly what he’s been dealing with and how frustrating that’s been, and he still kept showing up and giving 100 per cent and not making excuses.

“Alex has got as good a shot as anyone of obviously going deep at the Australian Open. But first things first, you’ve got to get there and you take care of business and hopefully find a way to navigate your way into the second week of the slam, and then anything can happen.”

First, the 25-year-old faces unseeded Botic van de Zandschlup; not an easy matchup by any means considering the Dutchman beat Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open just gone. Beyond van de Zandschlup should lie Argentine Federico Coria and then 31st seed Francisco Cerúndolo, who is also representing Argentina in the draw.

Beyond those rounds, De Minaur has a hurdle he’s historically struggled to beat: Stefanos Tsitsipas.

In the twelve times the two have met, Tsitsipas has the run: 11 wins vs. De Minaur’s one. Much of the matchup focuses on troubles De Minaur faces most regularly – height, weight, and power.

He’s not going to worry about that until he gets there. For “Demon,” it’s all about the homecoming. “I genuinely can’t wait to get out and play in front of my home crowd,” de Minaur told Aussie fans just before the AO 2025 draw was made.

“I’m just excited to play in front of you guys.

“[You’ve] got my back from the very first point to the last. Jeez, I’m excited to get started.”