🔗 Share this article {'Mentally it's killing me': Alex de Minaur on verge of ATP Finals elimination after third-set collapse The Australian tennis star's aspirations of reaching the ATP Finals semi-finals are hanging by a thread after a heartbreaking three-set loss to Italian opponent Lorenzo Musetti. Devastating Loss in Turin The seventh-ranked player succumbed 7-5 3-6 7-5 after failing to serve out the match, allowing the Italian to remain in the tournament and now forcing the Australian requiring to convincingly beat Taylor Fritz in his third and final group match to reach the semi-finals. Mental Demons Threaten Career But facing Fritz in two days' time is the least of de Minaur's pressing worries as the Sydney native concedes he must confront the mental demons that risk undermining his career. A unsuccessful competitor of all six of his grand slam quarter-final appearances, the 26-year-old was couldn't hide his anguish after experiencing yet another crucial opportunity slipping away with his finals destiny in his own hands. "I don't know how many times I can handle a loss like this one," de Minaur stated in Turin. "I must talk to my team and try to resolve these problems because these are issues that can't keep happening." Professional Turning Point "I mean, if I truly desire to be serious about taking the next step 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. Most importantly, it's reaching a point where psychologically it's killing me." Describing his emotions as "very bleak", de Minaur lamented a series of third-set slip-ups in 2025 and said he must discover methods to win the tight encounters. Recent Setbacks The Australia No 1's streak of devastating defeats comprise: Latest 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-5) outcome against Alexander Bublik at the Paris Masters Tightly-fought US Open quarter-final defeat to Felix Auger-Aliassime Semi-final in Monte Carlo against Musetti Squandered two-set lead against Bublik at the French Open Lost in a third-set tiebreaker to Andrey Rublev in the Doha semi-finals "I keep putting everything into these matches," de Minaur said. "When the result's not there, it's hard to keep persevering." Urgent Resolution Needed "This is an issue that if it doesn't get sorted, it's going to consume me completely. I must get it sorted quickly rather than delayed." Forthcoming Test De Minaur and Fritz are tied at five wins each in previous encounters, though the American world No 6 won their meeting in this prestigious tournament last year. The Aussie's hopes remain alive after Fritz suffered a 6-7 (2-7) 7-5 6-3 loss to Carlos Alcaraz that guaranteed the Spaniard would progress to the semi-finals as the victor of the Jimmy Connors group. Championship Consequences The second-ranked player's win, having already defeated de Minaur, put Alcaraz a single victory away of securing the year-end top ranking from Jannik Sinner. Regardless if he is defeated by Musetti in his last round-robin contest, Alcaraz will reclaim the world No 1 ranking unless Sinner, who beat Auger-Aliassime in his first match on Monday, goes unbeaten to retain his ATP Finals title. "I will try not to think about it," commented Alcaraz. "It's going to be a really big match for me. I will try not to let the nerves play a negative role in the match. I will think about my objectives, about performing much better than today."