In a stunning turn of events at the Miami Open, Alex de Minaur’s coach, Adolfo Gutiérrez, has publicly criticised Novak Djokovic’s performance, calling it “unprofessional.” Gutiérrez has gone a step further, boldly claiming that de Minaur will defeat Djokovic with a unique strategy designed to exploit the Serbian champion’s weaknesses.

Gutiérrez’s confidence isn’t unfounded. At the 2024 United Cup, de Minaur shocked the tennis world by defeating Djokovic 6-4, 6-4—his first-ever win against the world number one. This victory ended Djokovic’s six-year unbeaten streak in Australia. 

And his momentum didn’t stop there. Ahead of the 2024 Australian Open, de Minaur once again impressed by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in an exhibition match at Rod Laver Arena. While the match didn’t count towards official rankings, it reinforced the belief that de Minaur could be a serious contender at his home Grand Slam.

Gutiérrez highlighted that de Minaur’s latest training focuses on enhancing his aggressive playstyle and capitalising on his opponents’ vulnerabilities. One key area of improvement has been his return game—de Minaur now boasts a 31.6% break rate, surpassing even top players like Carlos Alcaraz and Djokovic himself.

Djokovic, for his part, has acknowledged de Minaur’s remarkable progress. The 24-time Grand Slam champion admitted that de Minaur has what it takes to go deep into the Australian Open, particularly with the home crowd advantage on his side. 

With his recent form and a solid game plan in place, Alex de Minaur is emerging as a serious threat on the ATP tour. Backed by his coach’s confidence and the support of Aussie fans, 2024 could mark the beginning of de Minaur’s breakthrough on the biggest stage.