‘Let that slip': Demon's great Wimbledon regret
The Australian No.1 took the first set in a canter against the seven-time champion, was steamrolled in the next two, but then had a break point to go 5-1 up and be one service game away from taking his 38-year-old opponent into a fifth set.
While Djokovic 'lifted his level big time' with Roger Federer looking on from the centre court stands, de Minaur instead went the other way, losing the next five games to fall in four sets and walk away knowing exactly where he let himself down with another grand slam moment not taken.
'He started going after it a little bit more and raised his level, which completely changed the momentum,' de Minaur said of Djokovic, who won 1-6 6-4 6-4 6-4.
'I'm frustrated I let that set slip away, but he's been pretty good in big moments for a very long time.
'In the bigger moments today I think my level dipped, and I didn't rise to the occasion as I needed to if I wanted to beat someone as good as him.
'There's positives (from the match) but where I am in my career I want more. I want to be on the other side of this match coming out on top because that's the next step in my career.
'If I'm going to make the next step, these are the types of matches that need to start going my way.'
Even Djokovic conceded he had to 'hang tough' and wasn't happy with his display in front of Federer. Aged 38, he remains a chance to become the oldest grand slam singles champion in the Open era.
'It wasn't a great start for me, it was a great start for Alex de Minaur obviously. I kind of reset myself in the second set,' Djokovic said.
'I was very pleased to hang in tough in the right moments and win this one.
'It's probably the first time (Roger is) watching me and I've won the match. The last couple I lost, so good to break the curse.'
Getting into a fifth set could have opened doors for de Minaur and it was hard to take any positives knowing he could have taken down one of the greatest of all time.
'The right thing to do, to tell myself, 'Hey, I was close, I probably should have been into a fifth set, and who knows what happens in that fifth set against Novak at Wimbledon and one of his best grand slams'. I should be telling myself that,' he said.
'But right now … I won't see that side of things. It's still too early. It's a little bit more about, 'Yes, I lost to Novak, but I lost in the fourth round when I was hoping for more this week'.'
It was also obvious to the Australian No.1 what he needs to improve on ahead of the US Open.
'I'm always going to put a lot of the pressure on my opponent, and I did that today,' he said.
'What I need to improve on is the serve. When (Djokovic) needed it, he really raised his serving. It felt like he was breezing through games.
'The serve needs to get me out of trouble, needs to help me in big moments, needs to step up if I want to win these matches.'
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