Always improving: Demon's rare AO streak still alive

Friday night, Rod Laver Arena, third round.

It’s the perfect setting for a blockbuster Grand Slam clash between Australia’s own Alex de Minaur and American 29th seed Frances Tiafoe.

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Should the Aussie No.1 prevail, he will keep alive a seven-year streak that underscores his ability to continuously improve and extract yet more out of himself.

That is, “Demon” has equalled or bettered his performance every Australian Open compared to the previous, over seven straight appearances since 2018.

In other words, since 2018, he hasn’t exited the singles draw at an earlier round than the years before.

Alex de Minaur at his home Slam:

Excluding players who’ve exited at the first round every year, and including those who’ve at least made the quarterfinals, Karen Khachanov is the only other man in the Open era with such a singles record at the AO over seven straight appearances.

Khachanov achieved the feat beginning with his second round exit in 2017, building to a semifinal showing in 2023.

In order to maintain the streak, De Minaur will have to overcome Tiafoe and then whoever looms in the fourth round – either world No.10 Alexander Bublik or Tomas Martin Etcheverry – to make it to the quarterfinals.

The 26-year-old has already added to his Grand Slam record this week at Melbourne Park following his second-round win over Hamad Medjedovic.

“I do take a lot of pride in these types of victories,” De Minaur told reporters after besting the Serb in four sets.

“More than anything because I'm playing a very tough opponent, who played really high-quality tennis.”

The win meant De Minaur became just the third Australian man to earn at least 20 singles wins at the AO since its move to Melbourne Park, following Mark Woodford (23) and his idol Lleyton Hewitt (32).

What’s more, Hewitt is the only Australian man to have won more Grand Slam singles matches on hard courts in the Open era than De Minaur.

“Yeah, look, Frances, he's super dangerous,” the Australian said on Wednesday.

”He's playing well, got a lot of firepower…I wouldn't expect anything other than an absolute battle against him.”