There’s growing concern for Alex de Minaur as Holger Rune openly reveals strategies to defeat him.
De Minaur, the Australian tennis sensation, has not exactly kicked off his 2026 season in the strongest manner...
During the United Cup, he managed a record of 2 wins and 1 loss in singles matches, with a setback against Casper Ruud. He did secure victories against Jakub Mensik and Hubert Hurkacz, but unfortunately, his win against Hurkacz was overshadowed by Australia's overall defeat to Poland in the quarterfinals, with a final score of 2-1.
Now, the focus shifts entirely to the Australian Open, which is particularly significant for him as it’s his home Grand Slam event.
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Sadly for De Minaur, his prospects in Melbourne might have just taken a hit due to insights shared by a competitor who isn’t even playing right now.
Holger Rune, despite being sidelined with an injury expected to keep him out for several months, appeared on the latest episode of ‘Served with Andy Roddick’ and discussed how he managed to beat De Minaur previously. Rune reflected on their match in Paris in 2024, where he described how an injury actually played a role in his victory.
"It’s interesting, during the warm-up before I faced him, I experienced a back spasm which restricted my serving ability," Rune explained. "At that time, I could only serve at about 150km/h, but surprisingly, this tactic worked well because I didn't give him much pace to work with. My strategy involved placing the serve strategically to create openings in the court, and I won the first set. Then, as I started to feel better and served harder, I lost the second set!
"In the third set, I reverted to my initial approach and ultimately managed to win the match."
The head-to-head record between these two players is quite intriguing:
- 2024 Paris Masters – Quarterfinals: Holger Rune defeated Alex de Minaur 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
- 2023 Queen’s – Semifinals: Alex de Minaur defeated Holger Rune 6-3, 7-6
- 2023 Mexican Open – Semifinals: Alex de Minaur defeated Holger Rune 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
- 2022 Swiss Indoors – First Round: Holger Rune defeated Alex de Minaur 6-2, 7-5
- 2022 Stockholm Open – Semifinals: Holger Rune defeated Alex de Minaur 4-6, 7-6, 7-5
Rune has clearly pinpointed a vulnerability in De Minaur’s game—when serves are delivered with less speed and greater precision, they can present challenges for the sixth-ranked player in the world. As De Minaur gears up for the Australian Open, he may worry that other competitors were listening closely to Rune’s podcast interview, potentially adopting his strategies for the upcoming tournament, which could complicate matters for the Australian star.
However, it's worth noting that while Rune has successfully executed his game plan against De Minaur in the past, the overall record between them shows a close competition, with Rune leading just 3-2.
Rune is aware of De Minaur's capabilities and made sure to praise his rival, stating, "A player like [Alex] De Minaur is exceptional. He truly optimizes every aspect of his game, including his physique and mentality. His mindset is incredibly resilient; he’s tough and never backs down. Plus, he possesses very flat shots that can be difficult to handle. Sometimes, they even come with unexpected backspin, making him a tricky opponent. If you’re not physically prepared, your chances of overcoming him diminish significantly, as he thrives on the pace of the game."
As De Minaur prepares for his ninth appearance in the main draw of the Australian Open, he will definitely aim to leverage his physical prowess to its fullest potential.
Alex de Minaur’s Journey at the Australian Open
De Minaur made his inaugural appearance at the Australian Open back in 2016, but unfortunately, he was eliminated in the first round of qualifying. Since then, he has participated in the main draw eight times, achieving a total of 18 wins and suffering 8 losses. Here’s a quick look at his Australian Open journey:
- 2017: Lost in the second round to Sam Querrey
- 2018: Lost in the first round to Tomas Berdych
- 2019: Lost in the third round to Rafael Nadal
- 2021: Lost in the third round to Fabio Fognini
- 2022: Lost in the third round to Jannik Sinner
- 2023: Lost in the third round to Novak Djokovic
- 2024: Lost in the fourth round to Andrey Rublev
- 2025: Reached the quarterfinals but lost to Jannik Sinner in straight sets
His best performance came last year when he advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in his career. The question now remains—can he surpass that achievement in 2026? One thing is certain: you won't want to miss any of the exciting matches ahead.
De Minaur will kick off his Australian Open campaign soon after the tournament begins on Sunday, January 18.
