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Alex de Minaur says his ability to absorb the pressure and expectation that comes with being the host nation’s leading Australian Open title hope is just a matter of perspective.

The world No.8, who has never been beyond the fourth round at Melbourne Park, survived a few scares to dispatch Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 in an encouraging first-up performance on Tuesday night.

“There is always going to be pressure. Ultimately, as I said many times before, no one is going to put more pressure on myself than myself,” de Minaur said in his post-match press conference.

“There’s always going to be outside noise, and that’s always going to be in the background, but I go in every day with a mindset of trying to bring out the best version of myself.

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“When it comes to playing these types of matches, or playing in Australia, my sole focus is to give myself the best chance when I walk on court, and do everything I can.

“[In] tennis, you can have some good days, you can have some bad days. If I have my bad day, I’m [still] going to fight until the end, compete, and I’m going to do my best.

“I know that the crowd is going to have my back from the very first point to the last. It’s perspective, right? It’s what way you choose to look at pressure.”

De Minaur dashed from Rod Laver Arena to Kia Arena to watch his fiancée, British 22nd seed Katie Boulter, secure a tense 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Canadian Rebecca Marino.

He admitted to catching the odd update on Boulter’s match on the scoreboard during his own battle, even if “you don’t really want to be thinking about it”.

“You try not to pay too much attention and focus on yourself, but the sheer fact that it’s always coming around, it makes it difficult,” de Minaur said.