Quarter-final curse: Demon's run of last-eight losses

Alex de Minaur of Australia reacts
Alex de Minaur is searching for answers after losing yet another grand slam quarter-final. -AAP Image

Alex de Minaur has lost all seven of his grand slam quarter-finals.

This is how the seven defeats played out (prefix denotes opponent's ranking):

2020 US Open: lost 6-1 6-2 6-4 to 3-Dominic Thiem (AUT)

A grand slam lightweight hitting the scales at barely 70kg, de Minaur walked away from his maiden major quarter-final hoping in "years to come I'll get bigger, I'll get stronger" after being bossed from the back by the tournament's eventual champion.

2024 French Open: lost 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 to 4-Alexander Zverev (GER)

The first Aussie to make the last eight at Roland Garros since Lleyton Hewitt 20 years earlier, de Minaur surrendered a 4-0 lead in the pivotal second-set tiebreaker and was unable to recover.

2024 Wimbledon: lost by default against 2-Novak Djokovic (SRB)

After hearing a "loud crack" in the very last game of his fourth-round win over Arthur Fils, a "devastated" Demon was forced to pull out of his scheduled blockbuster with a tear of the fibrocartilage that connects to the adductor muscle.

2024 US Open: lost 6-3 7-5 6-2 to 25-Jack Draper (GBR)

Six weeks later, de Minaur's hip and body failed him again but Australia's tennis warrior defiantly said: "Stopping didn't cross my mind at any stage. It's not part of me, part of my DNA."

2025 Australian Open: lost 6-3 6-2 6-1 to 1-Jannik Sinner (ITA)

The big home hope lamented his "worst match-up" on tour after being humbled for a 10th time in 10 meetings against his career-long nemesis and eventual champion.

2025 US Open: lost 4-6 7-6 (9-7) 7-5 7-6 (7-4) to 27-Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)

A crestfallen de Minaur bemoaned his "wasted opportunity" after blowing a one-set lead, losing the second in a desperately close tiebreaker and coughing up a match-turning 11 double-faults.

2026 Australian Open: lost 7-5 6-2 6-1 to 1-Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)

The dejected star vowed to "keep on moving, it's the only way" after red-lining and playing some of his finest tennis only to still come up short against the nigh-on indomitable world No.1.