'Super pleased': Demon powers into Open quarter-finals

Alex de Minaur has crushed 10th seed Alexander Bublik in an Australian Open fourth-round demolition to set up a quarter-final blockbuster against world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz.

The great local hope produced a Sunday night masterclass on Rod Laver Arena to stun Bublik 6-4 6-1 6-2 in only an hour and 32 minutes.

Bublik matched it with the world No.6 until late in the first set, when de Minaur completely took control.

After double faulting on set point, Bublik self-destructed in the second set as de Minaur raced to book consecutive quarter-final appearances at Melbourne Park.

Not even two-time major winner Lleyton Hewitt reached the final eight twice at his home grand slam during his glittering career.

From 4-4 in the first set, de Minaur then won 14 of the next 16 games in an extraordinary blitz.

A rattled Bublik remonstrated to his team when he fell behind 5-1 in the second set: “It’s the slowest court I’ve ever been on in my life”.

The landslide win is sweet revenge for de Minaur, who lost to Bublik in the second round of last year’s French Open when he led by two sets.

“I was definitely thinking about the last two matches I played him,” said de Minaur, who also lost to Bublik at the Paris Masters last year.

“He’s super dangerous.

“He can hit winners off anything basically, take the rhythm out of the match and almost make it as scrappy as possible.

“I just had to be locked in from the first point to the last, so huge mental effort and onto the quarters. So job done.”

Tennis legend John McEnroe remarked in commentary de Minaur had made his opponent look “pedestrian”.

“It’s got to be one of the best matches he’s ever played at this tournament,” McEnroe said of the 26-year-old.

“He should be perked up. He played outstanding!”

De Minaur’s quarter-final clash with Alcaraz looms as a defining moment in his career.

In six previous last-eight matches at grand slams, de Minaur has been outplayed in all of them, including a humbling take-down by Jannik Sinner at last year’s Australian Open.

De Minaur is 0-5 against Alcaraz, with the young Spaniard last beating him in straight sets at last year’s ATP finals.

“I’m super pleased with my level,” de Minaur said.

“I feel like I’m doing everything I want on the court.

“I’m excited for the next one, that’s going to be a big one.

“I’m going to have to come out here all guns blazing, and I’m excited for a battle against Carlos.”