Alex de Minaur has cut down the equal-tallest man in professional tennis to surge into the Sydney International quarter-finals for a second straight year.

The Australian No.1 feasted on numerous unforced errors from towering American qualifier Reilly Opelka to progress with a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) victory at Ken Rosewall Arena on Wednesday.

De Minaur’s win over the 211cm Opelka set up a quarter-final clash with fellow Sydneysider Jordan Thompson on Thursday.