On a sweltering day at Wimbledon, where several fans required medical assistance, Australia’s hopes in the tournament also dwindled in the soaring temperatures.
Alex de Minaur entered No 1 Court with aspirations of reaching at least the semi-finals of a grand slam but departed disappointed after a loss to Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, finishing with scores of 5-7, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3 in the fourth round.
The Australian No. 1 and world No. 6 struggled to match Cobolli’s dynamic play, appearing hesitant and lacking the necessary energy. Additionally, an inconsistent first serve hampered his performance as Australia’s last singles representative.
De Minaur had opportunities to seize control. He led 5-2 in the second set but ultimately faltered in the tie-breaker. Despite being twice ahead in breaks during the third set, he was unable to capitalize on those advantages.
The conditions on Wimbledon’s No. 1 Court can feel stifling, which should have favored de Minaur, who came into the match with four fewer hours on court than Cobolli—six-and-a-half hours compared to the Italian’s ten-and-a-half.
However, Cobolli appeared mentally sharper, invigorated by his recent success reaching the French Open final, while de Minaur seemed to grapple with the belief that he often struggles as he approaches the critical stages of a grand slam.
With a wildcard opponent awaiting in the quarter-finals—either British player Arthur Fery or seasoned veteran Grigor Dimitrov—the path to potential success appeared clearer, especially with Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic positioned in the opposite half of the draw.
During the first set, both players struggled with their first serves, with de Minaur barely escaping a break point in his opening game. He missed out on several chances to take a commanding lead of 40-15 against Cobolli. At 5-5, he found himself down love-40 but saved all three break points, only to concede another that Cobolli converted.
Needing a quick response, de Minaur faced a remarkable 39-shot rally at 15-15, the longest of the tournament, but Cobolli served out the set in 50 minutes.
De Minaur started the second set strongly, winning his first service game with ease but then faced four break points in his next, ultimately losing after a grueling nine-minute game.
His fiancée, Katie Boulter, was present, donning an England shirt to honor the national team’s remarkable World Cup win over Mexico earlier that day.
De Minaur needed to demonstrate the same tenacity and tactical awareness, and for a time, it appeared he would, breaking back with a more aggressive style. This was complemented by a second break, with his successful defense in a 23-shot rally eliciting cheers from the audience.
However, after leading 5-2, Cobolli rallied and won the next eleven points to bring the set back into balance.
The ensuing tie-break proved pivotal. De Minaur was broken early, yet Cobolli erred, allowing de Minaur to equalize at 3-3. De Minaur appeared to have Cobolli in trouble at the next point, but the 24-year-old executed a stunning cross-court shot after sprinting back to the baseline.
De Minaur’s resolve seemed to wane, along with his serve, as he faltered in the tie-break.
In the third set, de Minaur broke immediately but was broken back shortly after. Just when it seemed a comeback might be in the works, he saved three break points at 3-2, only to make a forehand error on the fourth, allowing Cobolli to level the match.
The conclusion came swiftly, with Cobolli winning 12 of the final 14 points, marking the end of de Minaur’s Wimbledon campaign and Australia’s hopes for the year.
