Two-time Grand Slam champion Pat Rafter believes that Alex de Minaur has what it takes to reach the Australian Open final.
De Minaur, an Australian heading into his home tournament, will arrive in scintillating form after notching recent wins over Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz.
The 24-year-old has surged into the world’s top 10 for the first time as a result.
“The match he played against Zverev, I thought, hang on, this kid’s starting to really get it,” Rafter told AAP about his compatriot.
“To beat Zverev when he’s at his top and now he [De Minaur] is top 10. To only reach one quarter by now, that surprises me.
“I thought he would have done better than that and I think that starts now, semis, finals, definitely.”