With the Socceroos no longer in contention for World Cup glory, Alex de Minaur is proud to keep the Australian flag flying on the world sporting stage at Wimbledon.
The 27-year-old has dropped just one set – against Zachary Svajda in the third round – in his 2026 campaign, which marks the fourth time he has reached the second week at The Championships.
“It was a very tricky match … I’m glad I was able to get a win,” De Minaur told Stan Sport after his 6-2 5-7 6-2 6-4 win over the rising American on Saturday, while also reflecting on the performance of his fellow Australian sportsmen.
“It was a tough one for the Socceroos last night. Hell of an effort. I’m proud of the boys. They fought their heart out and it’s just sometimes it doesn’t go your way.”
But as the No.5 seed in an eighth All England Club campaign, De Minaur is well-placed to maintain his position as the Aussie standard-bearer.
Progress to an eighth Grand Slam quarterfinal would mark an impressive milestone; only Lleyton Hewitt – with 15 appearances at that level – has achieved a better Grand Slam record among Australian men this century.
> READ: De Minaur saves Svajda test to reach Wimbledon fourth round
“I'm happy to get through the first week. You know, this is the first goal of the tournament. Obviously, it's getting down to kind of crunch time … I'm happy with the way I have been playing,” said De Minaur, having become the first Australian man since Nick Kyrgios 10 years ago to amass back-to-back fourth-round appearances at SW19.
“I thought today was probably the best I moved around the court. I'm feeling confident sliding from both sides, which is kind of a key aspect,” the 27-year-old added, while looking ahead to a meeting with ninth-seeded Italian Flavio Cobolli.
“I do think that I'm going to have to step it up in the next match. But saying that, I feel like I'm playing at a high level,” he commented. “I feel like I'm where I want to be. I'm in a good position. Body's feeling good. Mentally I'm feeling fresh. I think this is when I'm my most dangerous. I'm hoping that I can put two and two together and play a good match."
De Minaur can draw on the momentum of a positive grasscourt season, in which he has already recorded eight match wins. A ninth on the surface would set a new personal high.
“Now it's about building, right? Take what's in front of you. Don't look too far ahead. Keep that tunnel vision. That's basically it,” he said.
“I have been in this position before, so I've got the experience. I know what I need to do, what I don't need to do. Hopefully, I can go out there in the second week and bring some of my best tennis yet.”
That mindset, and experience, will be especially handy against Cobolli.
“Flavio is playing with a lot of confidence, coming off a final at Roland Garros,” he added. “I’m going to have to step up but we’re in the second week and now things start to get exciting.”
Hunter and Polmans spearhead doubles charge
De Minaur isn’t the only Australian flying the flag at SW19. With an upset of top-seeded Italians Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori in the mixed doubles, Storm Hunter and Marc Polmans progressed to the quarterfinals.
Their 6-3 6-7(2) 6-2 victory, achieved in an hour and 48 minutes, could see them become the first all-Australian pair to lift the Wimbledon mixed doubles trophy since Margaret Court and Ken Fletcher claimed their fourth title together in 1968.
Hunter and Polmans face Indonesian-French duo Aldila Sutjiadi and Guido Andreozzi next.
It’s proving a fruitful week for 31-year-old Hunter, who has also progressed to the third round of the women’s doubles alongside American Caty McNally. They face No.2 seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani for the chance to reach the quarterfinals.
Ellen Perez, competing with Dutchwoman Demi Schuurs, is also through to the women’s doubles third round. After a 6-3 6-1 victory over Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra, the pair meet Marta Kostyuk and Elena-Gabriela Ruse next.
> READ: Australian juniors Hewitt, Jovanovski and Alame start strong at Wimbledon
Fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis and American partner Aleksandar Kovacevic, who entered the men’s doubles as alternates, continued their progress with a second-round upset of 12th seeds Robert Cash and JJ Tracy.
Kokkinakis and Kovacevic face Christian Harrison and Neal Skupski, the No.5 seeds, in the third round.
You can watch Wimbledon on the channels of the Nine Network and Stan Sport.