Alex de Minaur is on an eight-match winning streak heading into his Canadian Open quarter-final against Ben Shelton.
The Australian, who left his fiance Katie Boulter ‘in awe’ after winning the Washington Open title, secured an impressive three-set victory over Frances Tiafoe on Saturday.
This is not the first time de Minaur has reached the latter stages in Canada. In 2023, he reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final at the Canadian Open.
It remains the only Masters 1000 final the ‘Demon’ has competed in.
In 2023, de Minaur ran into a rampant Jannik Sinner, who was just five months out from securing his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesAlex de Minaur said Jannik Sinner has the ‘hardest groundstrokes I’ve probably ever dealt’
In the 2023 Canadian Open final, Jannik Sinner defeated Alex de Minaur in convincing fashion, winning 6-4 6-1.
Sinner was also competing in his first Masters 1000 final and subsequently secured his first title at that level.
Speaking to reporters after the match, de Minaur was candid about Sinner’s performance, noting that the Italian ‘deserved’ the victory.’
De Minaur said: “Yeah, look, Jannik is a hell of a player. He’s got some of the hardest groundstrokes I’ve probably ever dealt, to be honest. All these things I knew coming in. I knew what to expect.
“I think, ultimately, he kind of executed his game plan a little bit better than I was able to do mine.
Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
“Today, the plan was to try to neutralise as much as I could, try to keep my depth. And as soon as I had a chance, try to take control of the rally, dictate, come in and be aggressive, and all that.
“But, yeah, look, he played an extremely high level. I think he returned really well, as well. You know, I was constantly under pressure on my serve.
“And, yeah, it was just one of those days. He deserved it today. He came out and played a very high level.”
Alex de Minaur has lost all 10 matches against Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner and Alex de Minaur have played each other 10 times on the ATP Tour. De Minaur has won none of those contests.
Moreover, Sinner has only lost one set against de Minaur during those 10 matches. The Italian has won 18 straight sets against de Minaur since losing the opening set during their match at the 2020 Sofia
The Italian first defeated de Minaur in straight sets at the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2019. Sinner’s most recent victory came at the 2025 Australian Open, where he defeated the Australian 6-3 6-2 6-1.
Sinner is seemingly a player who can easily combat the strengths of de Minaur, and the ‘Demon’ will hope to avoid ending up in the Italian’s half of the draw at both the Cincinnati Open and US Open.