De Minaur Clinches Rotterdam Title in Dominant Fashion, Teasing Boulter
Alex de Minaur has ended his ATP title drought in spectacular fashion, securing a significant victory at the Rotterdam Open this past weekend. The triumph comes hot on the heels of his partner, Katie Boulter, breaking her own title drought just a week prior, prompting a playful exchange between the tennis power couple.
De Minaur delivered a masterful performance in the Netherlands, overcoming the in-form Felix Auger-Aliassime to claim one of the biggest titles of his career. This marks his third attempt at the Rotterdam trophy, having fallen short in the final on the previous two occasions. His victory makes him only the second Australian, after Lleyton Hewitt, to lift this prestigious silverware.
The timing of de Minaur’s win, just a week after Boulter’s emotional victory at the Ostrava Open, led to some lighthearted banter. Boulter took to social media, posting with a laughing emoji, “He just can’t let me have a week. Stop copying me. Another week, another title.”
A Masterclass in Rotterdam
On Sunday, the Australian showcased some of his finest tennis, decisively defeating the Canadian world No. 6, Felix Auger-Aliassime. Auger-Aliassime had been on a remarkable run, having won the Montpellier Open just a week earlier and boasting an seemingly unbreakable serve. However, de Minaur managed to dismantle Auger-Aliassime’s formidable service game, which had held strong for 78 consecutive service games.
The world No. 8 from Sydney ultimately triumphed with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory, marking his first indoor title win. This win is a testament to de Minaur’s perseverance, particularly after losing the last two Rotterdam finals to formidable opponents Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
“I mean, third time lucky,” beamed the 26-year-old de Minaur. “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.”
Outplaying a Formidable Opponent
While the sport’s top two ranked players were not present in the Netherlands, Auger-Aliassime had been in exceptional form. He had previously demolished Alexander Bublik in the semi-finals with what he described as a near-perfect performance. However, de Minaur, who became the first player to reach three consecutive finals at the Ahoy Arena tournament, found an elevated level of play. Despite some inconsistent form during the earlier rounds of the week, he needed just 77 minutes to secure his historic win, becoming only the second Australian champion in the tournament’s 54-year history.
Emulating a Legend
By emulating the 2004 winner Lleyton Hewitt, de Minaur set the tone from the outset against Auger-Aliassime, a recognized indoor specialist. De Minaur adopted an aggressive approach, dominating the baseline exchanges and preventing the 25-year-old Canadian from finding his rhythm.
De Minaur’s breakthrough on Auger-Aliassime’s serve came in the sixth game, requiring two exquisite passing shots. Once he secured the break, he maintained his relentless pressure. In contrast to his semi-final match where he managed only three winners, de Minaur unleashed 10 winners against Auger-Aliassime. The Canadian, despite his considerable firepower, could only muster six winners.
De Minaur’s constant pressing ensured Auger-Aliassime could not replicate his earlier dazzling form. Towards the end of the match, Auger-Aliassime appeared to be struggling, requiring treatment for an apparent hip problem, hinting that his eight-match winning streak might have taken its toll.
However, this should not diminish de Minaur’s exceptional performance. He outplayed an opponent with whom he has a long-standing rivalry, dating back to their junior days. While Auger-Aliassime had previously held a 6-3 head-to-head advantage, he conceded after the match, “Alex was just a bit too good.”
“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,” de Minaur stated. He successfully converted three break points and crucially, did not concede a single break point on his own serve throughout the match.
The Australian’s impressive performance also caught the eye of royalty, with Prince Constantine of the Netherlands present in the stands. De Minaur expressed his satisfaction, stating, “Every day I got better, and I’m super pleased with the performance.”
This victory marks de Minaur’s fifth ATP 500 title. He has amassed more wins than any other player in ATP 500 events since the start of 2023, with a remarkable 53 victories. This early-season success is expected to serve as a significant springboard for de Minaur as he aims for greater achievements at the highest levels of the sport. His 11th ATP tour-level triumph places him joint-sixth alongside Australian tennis legends Mark Philippoussis and Pat Rafter in the all-time Australian men’s champions list in the Open Era.
