🔗 Share this article {'Mentally it's killing me': Alex de Minaur on verge of ATP Finals elimination after third-set meltdown The Australian tennis star's hopes of advancing to the ATP Finals semi-finals are hanging by a thread after a heartbreaking defeat in three sets to Italian opponent Lorenzo Musetti. Devastating Loss in Turin The world No 7 went down 7-5 3-6 7-5 after failing to serve out the match, keeping the Italian to remain in the event and now leaving the Australian requiring to convincingly beat Taylor Fritz in his last group match to qualify for the semi-finals. Psychological Challenges Threaten Career But facing Fritz in 48 hours is the smallest of de Minaur's immediate concerns as the Sydneysider admits he must confront the mental demons that threaten to cruel his career. A loser of all six of his major tournament quarter-final appearances, the twenty-six-year-old was couldn't hide his anguish after suffering yet another high-stakes near miss with his tournament fate in his own hands. "I'm uncertain how many times I can handle a loss like this one," de Minaur stated in Turin. "I just have to talk to my team and try to resolve these problems because these are challenges that can't keep happening." Professional Turning Point "Essentially, if I truly desire to be genuine about advancing to the next level in my career, these matches, I can't lose them. I just can't. It seems as if I've been defeated in a lot of them this year. More than anything, it's getting to a point where psychologically it's destroying me." Describing his emotions as "very bleak", de Minaur lamented a series of third-set slip-ups in 2025 and said he must find a way to win the tight encounters. Recent Disappointments The top-ranked Australian's streak of crushing losses include: Recent 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-5) result against Alexander Bublik at the Paris Masters Closely-contested US Open quarter-final loss to Felix Auger-Aliassime Final four in Monte Carlo against Musetti Wasted two-set lead against Bublik at the French Open Lost in a third-set tiebreaker to Andrey Rublev in the Doha semi-finals "I continue investing everything into these matches," de Minaur commented. "Whenever the outcome isn't positive, it's hard to keep persevering." Immediate Solution Needed "This is an issue that if it isn't resolved, it's going to eat me alive. I must get it sorted sooner rather than later." Upcoming Challenge De Minaur and Fritz are 5-5 in past meetings, though the sixth-ranked American won their matchup in this prestigious tournament last year. The Aussie's hopes remain alive after Fritz suffered a 6-7 (2-7) 7-5 6-3 defeat to Carlos Alcaraz that ensured the Spaniard would advance to the semi-finals as the victor of the Jimmy Connors group. Championship Consequences The world No 2's win, having already defeated de Minaur, put Alcaraz within one win of claiming the season-ending top ranking from Jannik Sinner. Even if he loses to Musetti in his last round-robin contest, Alcaraz will reclaim the world No 1 ranking unless Sinner, who beat Auger-Aliassime in his opener on Monday, goes unbeaten to retain his ATP Finals title. "I'll attempt not to think about it," commented Alcaraz. "This will represent a really big match for me. I will try not to let the nerves play a bad time in the match. I will think about my objectives, about feeling much better than today."