Alex de Minaur hits back at 'awful' online criticism after loss to Jannik Sinner

MELBOURNE: Mark Petchey has delivered a stirring defence of Alex de Minaur after the Australian waded into choppy social media waters following his brutal loss to Jannik Sinner.

The world No.1 and defending champion put on a masterclass at Rod Laver Arena, with de Minaur completely outgunned in a 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 quarter-final defeat.

The 'Demon' then on Wednesday night took the rare step of replying to criticism on social media.

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Notorious X user Pavvy G wrote that the world No.8 had "zero self belief that he can even compete with Sinner let alone beat him. Awful performance from him."

A gutted de Minaur couldn't help but return serve.

"Hey mate it's a shame that you never became a good enough player to experience playing Jannik," he wrote.

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"I'm sure you would've put up a better performance and know exactly how to beat him. Wishing you all the best!!!"

Petchey, the former coach of grand slam winners Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu, said it was probably unwise to respond.

"From Alex's perspective, you don't want to be replying to somebody whose greatest accomplishment in life is to be able to log on to X," he said on Stan Sport's Grand Slam Daily.

"That's all they've ever done is find a username and a password and then a keyboard.

"You know, Alex is maximising in what I consider the hardest sport in the world with a game against some of the absolute elites.

"You've got to be physically at the top of your game, mentally at the top of your game, you've got to have a skill set. And the problem for Alex isn't hard work, isn't about mentality or competition."

The 192cm Sinner now holds a 10-0 career record against the 183cm de Minaur.

The Italian combined all court artistry with the efficiency of a well trained assassin to silence a parochial home crowd.

"It's a skill set that unfortunately, his (de Minaur's) isn't quite as good as somebody like Jannik's," Petchey said.

"You can't teach height, you know, and, and therefore he's got to go and try and find it somewhere else.

"The draw at some other grand slam may well open up. That Jannik isn't there, Carlos (Alcaraz) isn't there, and he gets a win.

"I hope he does, because then he can send the post back with a trophy, because that person there is never getting their hands on any silverware."