Alex De Minaur believes Carlos Alcaraz has the best aura on the ATP tour despite the Spaniard’s difficult start to 2025. De Minaur has played some of tennis’ greats over the past few years and insists Alcaraz has the strongest presence when they stand on opposite sides of the court.
Alcaraz’s only title this year came in Rotterdam, incidentally winning the final against De Minaur. The 21-year-old was beaten in the Indian Wells semi-final by Jack Draper last week. Draper went on to win the tournament.
De Minaur still believes Alcaraz boasts the best aura out of all active players, though. He ranks his rival higher than Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner.
Speaking to Overtime, De Minaur said: “Who has the most aura? You can’t really go past Carlitos… Alcaraz! He definitely has that aura.”
The Australian suggested in January that he would have a stronger chance of winning a Grand Slam if he was on the opposite side of the draw to Sinner. He was beaten by the Italian in the Australian Open quarter-final and pointed out that their head-to-head was his ‘worst’ compared to any other rival. Sinner has won all 10 of their meetings.
“I mean, it’s pretty tough right now for me to sit here after this defeat and tell you that I believe I can go all the way,” De Minaur said at the time when asked if he could ever win a Grand Slam.
“But saying that, I do think that there are opportunities out there. Tennis is so much about match-ups, right? Yeah, I think right now my worst match-up on tour is probably Jannik. You know, there’s a head-to-head that doesn’t lie.
“If I’m in a different side of the draw, different little section, then who knows? I genuinely think I’m going to give myself opportunities, and I don’t think my peak is making quarter-finals in a slam. I see other players that have made it further, have made semis, have made finals, and I do believe that I can be amongst them. If they have been able to accomplish that, then why not me?”
De Minaur has made the quarter-final of all four Grand Slams but has never made it past that round. The world No. 10 has won nine career titles.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk