The last 5 Aussie men to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals: Alex de Minaur follows Kyrgios, Hewitt
Alex de Minaur broke new ground at the Australian Open on Monday, reaching the quarter-final of his home Grand Slam for the first time.
The eighth seed’s run in Melbourne completes the ‘last eight’ set for the 25-year-old, who has previously reached that stage at the other three majors.
It is also the first time in 10 years that an Australian man has gone deep at his home major, and just the fifth time in the past 30 years.
Alex de Minaur – 2025
After fourth-round losses in 2022, 2023, and 2024, world No 8 de Minaur has finally broken through at his home major.
De Minaur has been in impressive form so far, dropping just one set – against 31st seed Francisco Cerundolo in the third round – and beating Alex Michelsen 6-0, 7-6(5), 6-3 on Monday.
However, he faces a tough quarter-final against world No 1 Jannik Sinner, who he has not beaten in nine previous attempts.
Nick Kyrgios – 2015
De Minaur is the first Australian men’s singles quarter-finalist since Kyrgios, whose best run at his home major came as an unseeded teenager a decade ago.
Months after his 2014 Wimbledon breakthrough, Kyrgios beat 23rd seed Ivo Karlovic in the second round before saving match points against Andreas Seppi in round four.
Kyrgios’ run came to an end with a straight-sets defeat to sixth seed and eventual finalist Andy Murray.
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Lleyton Hewitt – 2005
Hewitt only reached the quarter-final at his home Slam once – but ultimately went all the way to the final two decades ago.
The third seed reached the fourth round where he battled past an unseeded Rafael Nadal in five sets to finally make the last eight in Melbourne.
Hewitt would beat ninth seed David Nalbandian in his quarter-final and then defeated Andy Roddick in the last four, before a four-set loss to fourth seed Marat Safin in the championship match.
Pat Rafter – 2001
Two-time US Open champion and former world No 1 Rafter reached the quarter-final of the Australian Open once – in his last-ever appearance at the tournament.
The 12th seed stormed through the early stages of the draw in Melbourne, and a straight-sets win over eighth seed Tim Henman in the fourth round powered him into the last eight.
Rafter defeated 14th seed Dominik Hrbaty to reach his sole Australian Open semi-final, where he fell in five sets to sixth seed and eventual champion Andre Agassi.
Mark Woodforde – 1996
One of the greatest doubles players of all time, Woodforde’s best Grand Slam singles run saw him reach the last four of his home major almost three decades ago.
Unseeded in the draw, Woodforde defeated compatriot Mark Philippoussis – who had previously stunned Pete Sampras – in straight sets to reach his only Grand Slam singles quarter-final.
Woodforde extended his run by beating seventh seed Thomas Enqvuist in straight sets, though was beaten by fourth seed and eventual winner Boris Becker in their semi-final.
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