Norman Burns: Why the 2025 Australian Open could be top-seeded Aussie Alex de Minaur’s to lose

Those of a certain vintage will remember the TV show, “The Six Million Dollar Man”. The premise was a test pilot who, after surviving a fiery crash, was rebuilt with “bionics”. He became fitter, faster, stronger (but not, if I recall correctly, smarter...) But that’s where Aussie tennis star Alex de Minaur has one over Steve Austin, aka The Bionic Man. He’s not only fitter, stronger, bigger (an extra 7kg of muscle) and faster he is infinitely smarter on the tennis court – and that’s a deadly combination for those who will cross his path at the Australian Open. De Minaur, currently No. 8 in the world, also has a massive advantage if his back is against the wall in a match of being able to harness the energy of home fans. And that could be crucial as he advances through the rounds. The Sydneysider’s “pop gun” serve used to be easy pickings, but he has worked to ramp up the power, direction, and especially speed -- from around the 180kmh mark in his early days on the tour to 200kmh – or above. Free points on serve are like gold in the cauldron-like atmosphere of a Slam singles match. A lot must happen for De Minaur to become the first Australian since Mark Edmonson in 1976 to lift the Norman Brooks Trophy. He needs to stay injury free; he needs to keep winning (obviously) to reach a potential quarter-final with world No. 1, Italy’s Jannik Sinner, and the current kryptonite to his Superman. And if he does that, he needs to draw on those tennis smarts he has honed and channel it into belief that he can beat Sinner, who has a formidable head-to-head winning record of 9-0, the last clash a straight sets demolition at the Davis Cup semifinal late last year. Lleyton Hewitt, a prototype for De Minaur’s never-say-die game, was the last Australian men’s finalist in 2005, only to be bludgeoned off the court by Russia’s Marat Safin. And tennis has changed – a lot – in 20 years. The men’s ranks run deep with power hitters and fitness freaks. There are no easy matches. The Demon thrives on the challenge. And if the cards fall his way he could – could – be back in the tattoo parlour, adding another design to the “109” on his chest, representing the 109th player to represent his country in the Davis Cup. This one would read: Demon, Australian Open Champion.