Tension boils over for Alex de Minaur: Racket smash indicates barren spell continues against Arnaldi in Rome

Shades of fellow Aussie tennis player Nick Kyrgios was showcased by fellow countryman Alex de Minaur. The world number eighth is currently enduring a barren spell on the court, and this has continued in the second round of the Rome Open against Matteo Arnaldi in a 6-4, 6-7(5), 4-6. This alarming downturn in form has left him a frustrated man, pictured slamming his racket on the ground in anger with another miserable result in store.

After losing in straight sets to Spanish wonderkid Rafael Jodar last time out in Madrid, there was a sense of vengeance in store. De Minaur was dearly hoping to get back in the winning enclosure and would have to do so against home favourite Arnaldi.

It started well. He broke enroute to a 4-2 lead in the first set and had no trouble in seeing it out. No breaks in the second set led all the way to a fascinating tiebreak. Arnaldi, knowing it was now or never, found an extra level and snuck ahead in the finale to the second set, clinching his second set point to prolong the match and leave de Minaur wondering what could have been.

Arnaldi then took the initiative in set three. Although this did not last long at all with de Minaur breaking back instantly, leaving the score at 4-4. After all the hardwork to get back on level terms, de Minaur relinquished the lead again as Arnaldi broke to love.

It was a truly hideous sight for the former Canadian Open finalist. He had enough, slamming his racket ferociously into the clay on the BNP Paribas Arena. An uncharacteristic head-loss moment by the 27-year-old who was on the cusp of consecutive second round exits at this level. Arnaldi served it out, leaving de Minaur with another early defeat.

That is the question on many people's lips. Going into the tournament as the sixth seed, he was hoping to find the form that he kicked off the year with. A quarterfinal in the Australian Open along with the title at the ABN AMRO Open were hugely promising signs, competing and defeating the best.

However, good things do not last forever. The danger signs were apparent at the Mexican Open. He was one of a number of top players to fall at the first hurdle, but all the more surprising with barely anyone seeing it coming.

The Sunshine swing was a disaster. He edged Sebastian Korda at Indian Wells before falling to a brilliant Cameron Norrie. That was a trend to an extent in this period where he was still playing a decent level of tennis, but coming against players who upped their game to compete with the top 10 talent.

An out of sorts Stefanos Tsitsipas downed him in straight sets in Miami, abruptly ending his Sunshine swing in 2025. Clay was now the forefront of de Minaur's mind, and ideally a fast start. He got his revenge on Norrie before defeating Alexander Blockx at the Monte-Carlo Masters, but was dragged into a three-set battle against home hero Valentin Vacherot, coming out second best.

It would only go downhill from here. His last win on the court was against Sebastian Ofner in a tight straight set triumph. Hamad Medjedovic picked up a huge upset in at the Barcelona Open with Jodar in Madrid and Arnaldi in Italy also causing major upsets, but not for the passionate home support.

De Minaur is not set to compete in the tournaments in either Hamburg or Geneva. He has his eyes firmly turned towards Roland Garros. Out of any tournament, this would be the perfect one to find his best tennis once more.