Australian tennis icon Nick Kyrgios has publicly endorsed compatriot Alex de Minaur as a future Grand Slam champion, though he acknowledges the world No. 6 faces a formidable path through the Australian Open draw. Kyrgios, who is skipping singles competition to focus on doubles with partner Thanasi Kokkinakis, made these observations following his participation in Red Bull’s ‘Bass Line’ exhibition event on Friday.
De Minaur’s championship aspirations face immediate challenges, beginning with a first-round matchup against former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini. The draw potentially sets up a subsequent encounter with Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz, creating what Kyrgios described as a ‘brutal’ competitive landscape.
Kyrgios expressed particular concern about Berrettini’s current physical condition, noting the Italian’s limited participation in recent exhibition matches. ‘Depending on what Berrettini’s physicality is like at the moment, he couldn’t even compete tonight,’ Kyrgios observed.
Despite the daunting draw, Kyrgios maintains confidence in de Minaur’s capabilities. ‘He’s one of the best players in the world and he’s flying that Aussie flag from the front,’ Kyrgios stated. ‘I think he’s going to be fine.’
The analysis acknowledges that de Minaur maintains a perfect record against lower-ranked opponents at his home Grand Slam. However, Kyrgios realistically assessed that a deep tournament run might require early exits from either Alcaraz or current form player Jannik Sinner.
‘Beating them both is unlikely but beating one is possible I think,’ Kyrgios commented. ‘The stars need to align for any tournament, luck plays a big part, we play a sport that’s fine margins.’
Kyrgios concluded with strong national pride, emphasizing that de Minaur’s success would represent a significant achievement for Australian tennis, while acknowledging the narrow margins that often determine outcomes in elite tennis competition.