Alex de Minaur urged to change coach after Wimbledon loss

Alex de Minaur was knocked out by Flavio Cobolli in the fourth round of Wimbledon on 5 July 2026, prompting former Andy Murray coach Mark Petchey to demand a coaching shake-up.

What happened at Wimbledon?

De Minaur entered the All England Club as the world No. 6, hoping to improve on his 2024 quarter-final run. He met Italy’s 23-year-old Cobolli in a straight-sets battle, 6-4 7-5 6-2, and walked off the court without a break point in the final set. In the post-match press conference he reiterated his loyalty to longtime coach Adolfo Gutierrez, who has guided him since age nine.

Why is Mark Petchey pushing for a new coach?

While de Minaur defended Gutierrez, Petchey, now a Stan Sport analyst, argued the Australian needs “a voice with more passion.” He recalled his own emotional loss to Sandon Stolle, saying a “hype man or hype woman” could reignite de Minaur’s fire. Petchey pointed to the player’s 0-13 record against Jannik Sinner, 0-6 versus Carlos Alcaraz and 1-3 versus Novak Djokovic as evidence that something in the current setup isn’t clicking.

How could a coaching change affect his game?

Gutierrez has overseen 11 ATP titles for de Minaur, including back-to-back wins at the Mexican Open (2023, 2024) and the Rotterdam Open in 2026. Yet the Grand Slam tally remains limited to quarter-final appearances at the US Open (2020, 2024, 2025) and the French Open (2024). A fresh perspective might bring new tactical tweaks-perhaps more aggressive net play or varied serve patterns-to break the dead-lock against the sport’s elite.

What does de Minaur say about his future?

During the Wimbledon interview de Minaur admitted the loss felt “like a golden opportunity slipping away,” but he also emphasized the trust he has built with Gutierrez over 15 years. He hinted that any decision will be taken after the summer hard-court swing, suggesting he wants to assess his form at the US Open before making a move.

What’s next for the Australian?

De Minaur will head to the North American hard-court season, targeting the US Open where he hopes to finally break past the quarter-final barrier. Meanwhile, Petchey’s comments have already sparked debate on social media, with former players weighing in on whether a coaching change could be the catalyst de Minaur needs to finally capture a Grand Slam title.