Alex de Minaur has revealed he feels "broken inside" after his Wimbledon campaign ended in the fourth round with a straight-sets loss to Italian player Flavio Cobolli. The defeat marks another Grand Slam where the Australian, ranked sixth in the world, has fallen short of expectations after showing strong form earlier in the tournament.
"It's a tough one. Overall, just not what I expected of myself," de Minaur said after the match. "I think one of us went out to win the match, and the other went out not to lose the match. It's pretty self-explanatory who was who." He described the feeling as gut-wrenching, acknowledging that countless hours of dedication have not translated into the breakthrough moments he seeks at major tournaments.
De Minaur, 27, attributed the loss to a mental lapse, stating, "The issue is playing this match like I've got the weight of the world on my shoulders. 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."
This recurring pattern of strong performances followed by late-stage collapses is taking a toll. "Sadly, it just feels like (these results) keep on coming. This is just another one to add to the tally," he admitted. The missed opportunities, he feels, accumulate and make his aspirations seem more distant. "You go through moments in your career, times where you feel that there's opportunities to be taken, to take the next step, to make it to the next level. And to fall short constantly, you start doubting whether you're going to be able to take it to the next step. It's a battle that I deal with every day."
Despite the emotional turmoil, de Minaur remains committed to competing. "I'm a competitor through and through. So I'll get back up, and I'll give myself another chance." He emphasized that his tennis ability is sufficient to win these matches, but he must overcome his mental hurdles. "I either improve or we'll see the same results again and again."
To help put the loss behind him, de Minaur plans to focus on his upcoming marriage to British player Katie Boulter. "I've got some pretty big things happening soon, stuff that I'm very excited for. My best way forward is to channel my focus into that, into something positive, and that should help put this in the past and get on with what's next," he said. De Minaur has yet to advance beyond the quarterfinals of any Grand Slam event.
