“It breaks me inside”: Alex de Minaur admits frustration grows after another missed Grand Slam breakthrough

Tuesday, 07 July 2026 at 02:30

Alex de Minaur struggled to hide the frustration after another missed opportunity at Grand Slam level, admitting that falling short in crucial moments “breaks me inside” as he continues searching for the breakthrough run that has remained just out of reach.

The Australian’s Wimbledon campaign ended in painful fashion on Monday, as ninth seed Flavio Cobolli recovered from multiple difficult situations to defeat the No.5 seed 7-5, 7-6(4), 6-3 on No.1 Court and reach his second consecutive quarter-final at the All England Club.

For much of the match, De Minaur appeared to be in a strong position to extend his tournament run. He led 5-2 in the second set before losing five consecutive games, and in the third set he held a break advantage on two separate occasions but was unable to maintain control.

The defeat represented another frustrating chapter for a player who has consistently placed himself in position to make deep Grand Slam runs but has yet to turn those opportunities into the biggest results of his career.

De Minaur reflects on another painful opportunity lost

De Minaur arrived at Wimbledon as the fifth seed after a confident opening week in which he defeated Camilo Ugo Carabelli, Adrian Mannarino and Zachary Svajda without dropping a set. With several contenders already eliminated and a favourable section of the draw opening up, the Australian appeared to have a genuine opportunity to return to the second week’s latter stages.

Instead, he struggled to close out a match that was repeatedly within his control. Against Cobolli, a recent Roland Garros finalist and Wimbledon quarter-finalist last year, De Minaur created opportunities but could not convert them when the pressure increased.

Reflecting on those missed chances, the Australian admitted the defeat was difficult to process because of the work required to reach these moments. “It breaks me inside. That’s the reality of it,” De Minaur said. “Many, many hours get put into my craft, and countless years to kind of have moments like these. To not step up, it’s truly gut-wrenching. It’s very tough.”

The loss extended a familiar Grand Slam frustration for De Minaur, who has now reached seven major quarter-finals but continues to search for the next step in his career. While he has established himself as one of the most consistent players on tour, the biggest breakthroughs have continued to escape him.

“They keep on coming”: the mental battle behind Grand Slam setbacks

For De Minaur, the disappointment was not only about one match but about a recurring pattern of opportunities appearing and disappearing at the sport’s biggest tournaments.

“It just feels like they keep on coming. It’s not easy to take,” he said, referring to painful defeats such as the one against Cobolli. “You go through moments in your career, times where you feel that there’s opportunities to be taken to make it to the next level and to become an even better version of yourself.”

“You start doubting whether you’re going to be able to break through and kind of take it to the next step.”

The Australian acknowledged that his ambitions remain high despite his achievements, but admitted the gap between his goals and his results has become a daily challenge. “I’m in a great position but the fact that I want more and I’m not able to achieve more, it’s a battle that I deal with every day.”

Those expectations have increased as De Minaur has climbed the rankings. Once viewed primarily as a relentless competitor capable of troubling top players, he now regularly enters Grand Slams as a seeded contender expected to challenge for the latter stages.

“The dreams feel further away”: De Minaur searching for the next step

The emotional weight of these defeats has also forced De Minaur to reflect on whether he is moving closer or further away from achieving his biggest goals.

“The goals, the beliefs, the dreams that you have, they kind of start fading away or they feel a little bit further away than when they once were,” he said. “I feel like a couple of years ago, I was definitely closer. Now it just feels like I’m getting a little bit further away from those dreams.”

However, the Australian placed the responsibility on himself rather than external circumstances, recognising that his ability to handle these moments will determine whether he can eventually make the breakthrough he wants. “It all comes down to myself and how I’ve dealt with certain situations,” he said.

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De Minaur also admitted that the pressure he puts on himself during these matches has become one of the biggest obstacles he needs to overcome. “We practiced before the tournament started and the issue is playing this match and playing like I’ve got the weight of the world on my shoulders.”

“That’s the issue. It gets brought up on myself. I need to deal with it better, because if not, I’m just not going to be able to achieve the goals and dreams I’ve got.”

For now, Wimbledon ends with another reminder of how close De Minaur is — and how far he still feels from the level he believes he can reach.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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