Tennis star Alex de Minaur is calling on his home fans to make some noise after defeating Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz in an exhibition match. The Australian player, who recently beat Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev, considers this victory an important confidence boost before the Australian Open. He has beaten nine top-10 rivals in the past year and is hoping for strong fan support at the tournament. Despite the win against Alcaraz, de Minaur understands the importance of such matches as preparation for the Open. Meanwhile, Australian player Jordan Thompson’s participation in the Australian Open is uncertain due to a leg injury, which he aggravated during a defeat in the Adelaide International. Other Australian players have also had mixed results in the lead-up to the Open, with some advancing to the quarter-finals of the tournament.