Alex de Minaur secured a spot in the Rotterdam Open final with a commanding victory over Grigor Dimitrov, avenging a previous loss. This win serves as a special birthday gift for his 25th birthday.
In 2023, during the same event on de Minaur’s birthday, Dimitrov from Bulgaria upset the party by defeating the top-ranked Australian player in the quarter-finals.
The ‘Demon’ sought revenge for their narrow loss and achieved it decisively at the Rotterdam Ahoy arena on Saturday (Sunday AEDT). They won the semi-final with a score of 6-4, 6-3, setting up a final match against Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner.
After winning the Melbourne Park tournament, top seed and world No.4 Sinner returned to compete in a tournament for the first time. He defeated the home crowd favorite, Tallon Griekspoor, 6-2 6-4 in the semi-final match.
De Minaur’s victory guarantees that he will reach a personal best ranking of No. 9 in the global standings next week, moving up from his current spot at 11.
On Friday, he defeated Andrey Rublev 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-3 in the quarter-finals, seeking revenge for his previous loss at the Australian Open.
“I’m extremely happy with the level throughout the whole match,” a delighted de Minaur said after beating Dimitrov.
“I believe it was one of my strongest performances throughout the entire match. However, I am always aware that Grigor will raise his game and continue to compete until the very end. I had to overcome some challenging break points, but managed to produce some of my best tennis.”
De Minaur recorded 14 successful shots and only had four mistakes in his impressive 84-minute performance.
“Since arriving in Rotterdam, I have sensed a tranquil atmosphere. I have maintained a positive and composed demeanor throughout all my matches, which I believe has been crucial for my success,” stated de Minaur, who is participating in his first tournament since the Australian Open.
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The resident of Sydney attributes his improved performance to a stronger mindset that is starting to toughen him up when facing top players. This determined attitude, similar to that of Lleyton Hewitt who won in Rotterdam 20 years ago, has aided him in recent matches.
De Minaur’s recent partnership with his Davis Cup coach Hewitt is no mere coincidence. Following his victory over Dimitrov, he expressed that it has become his new standard and what he strives to bring to every match.
“I believe I have taken a significant stride towards the right path, demonstrating the level of tennis I am capable of playing consistently. I feel I have raised the standard and I am hopeful that there is much more to come.”
Sinner serves as the ultimate challenge for him. Among all players, the 22-year-old Italian rival is most likely to make the Australian feel inferior. Since their initial encounter at the ATP NextGen finals in 2019, Sinner has emerged victorious in all six matches and only dropped one set.
