Written by 
Alex de Minaur has become the first Australian man since Nick Kyrgios a decade ago to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals.
The world No.8 overcame serving woes for a second straight match to defeat American Alex Michelsen 6-0, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 to book his fourth grand slam quarter-final in a row but first at Melbourne Park.
Alex de Minaur storms into the quarter-finals.Credit: Getty Images
“It means the world,” de Minaur said. “There is nothing I want to do more than play well here in Australia in front of you guys, so I am glad I finally made it to a quarter-finals here. Let’s go for bigger and better things.”
Awaiting de Minaur is defending champion and world No.1 Jannik Sinner, who has won all nine career meetings with Australia’s best player.
“I’m looking forward to it, obviously,” de Minaur said of the Sinner showdown. “It’s going to be an incredibly tough match and I’m going to have to do something I haven’t done before, but why not start here?”
De Minaur won the first eight games of the match against an erratic Michelsen, who struggled to even keep the ball in court up until then.
Alex de Minaur and Alex Michelsen meet at the net following the Australian’s fourth round win.Credit: AP
The American also had to stave off a break point in the next game, but finally got on the board after 41 minutes and 22 unforced errors.
Michelsen raised his level for the rest of the second set, snatching back the break as de Minaur tried to clinch a two-set lead.
He also grabbed the first mini-break in the tiebreak to threaten to level the match – albeit he gave it straight back – but a point much later proved the difference.
Serving with a 4-5 deficit, de Minaur was almost outside the court as he clipped a crosscourt forehand winner on the run past Michelsen at the net.
The Australian instantly apologised because he had not made the cleanest contact, but it was a crucial one to win.
He followed with an ace before a superb return drew one more error out of Michelsen that clinched him the set.
De Minaur needed only one break in the third set to complete his victory, although he did have to save a break point while serving for his quarter-final spot.