Third time's the charm! Alex de Minaur finally conquers the Rotterdam Open, snatching a career-defining title!
After two previous heartbreaking final losses, Alex de Minaur has finally etched his name in the Rotterdam Open history books, clinching one of the most significant titles of his career with a truly masterful performance. This victory marks a monumental week for the Australian, who showcased his absolute best tennis on Sunday to overcome the formidable Felix Auger-Aliassime, a player who had been on an incredible winning streak.
Auger-Aliassime, who had just triumphed at the Montpellier Open the week prior, was in scintillating form, boasting an almost impenetrable serve. In fact, he had managed an astonishing 78 consecutive service games without being broken leading up to this final. However, De Minaur, ranked world No. 8, managed to dismantle this seemingly unbreakable delivery in the very first set. The inspired Sydneysider then surged forward, ultimately securing his first indoor title with a decisive 6-3, 6-2 victory.
This win is a testament to the dogged perseverance of the Australian talent. Having reached the finals of this beloved hard-court tournament in the past two years, only to fall short against formidable opponents like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, this triumph feels particularly sweet. As the 26-year-old beamed, "I mean, third time lucky." He continued, "I’m so super happy. It ended up being a great week here, a place where I always feel really, really good. I was just a step short the previous years, so it feels great to finally be able to lift the title."
While the absolute titans of the sport weren't present in the Netherlands this week, Auger-Aliassime had been playing at the peak of his powers. He had delivered a crushing performance in the semi-finals against Alexander Bublik, which he himself described as near-perfect. But here's where it gets controversial... could De Minaur's strategic brilliance have disrupted Auger-Aliassime's momentum even if he hadn't been dealing with an apparent hip issue towards the end?
De Minaur, remarkably, is the first player to reach three consecutive finals at the Ahoy Arena tournament. He found an entirely new gear in this final, especially after a week of somewhat inconsistent form. In just 77 minutes, he became only the second Australian to win this prestigious tournament in its 54-year history, following in the footsteps of the legendary Lleyton Hewitt, who won in 2004.
From the outset, De Minaur, known for his aggressive style, dominated the baseline rallies, preventing the indoor specialist Auger-Aliassime from finding his rhythm. While he needed two exquisite passing shots to finally break Auger-Aliassime's serve in the sixth game, he never looked back. In contrast to his semi-final match where he managed only three winners, De Minaur unleashed 10 beautiful winners in this final, significantly outperforming the Canadian, who could only muster six despite his superior power.
De Minaur's relentless pressure was the key, preventing Auger-Aliassime from replicating the dazzling form he'd displayed all week. And this is the part most people miss... while Auger-Aliassime's eight-match winning streak might have taken its toll, leading to him needing treatment for a hip problem, it shouldn't overshadow De Minaur's exceptional performance. He completely outplayed his opponent, with whom he's shared a 10-match rivalry since their junior days. Despite Auger-Aliassime holding a 6-3 head-to-head advantage previously, he conceded, "Alex was just a bit too good."
De Minaur himself reflected on his performance, stating, "For sure, it was my best tennis of the week, and that’s what it’s all about, just doing my best to rise up to the occasion." He impressively secured three breaks of serve and, crucially, didn't concede a single break point on his own serve throughout the entire match.
This victory marks De Minaur's fifth ATP 500 title, a significant achievement as these tournaments are just a step below Masters 1000 and Grand Slam events. Since the beginning of 2023, he has accumulated the most match wins in these events, with a remarkable 53 victories.
What do you think? Was Auger-Aliassime's hip issue the deciding factor, or did De Minaur simply elevate his game to an undeniable level? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
