In a gripping match at the Rotterdam Ahoy Arena, top-seeded Alex de Minaur triumphed over local hero Botic van de Zandschulp. The world number eight overcame a fierce challenge from the world number 65, securing a place in the semifinals with a scoreline of 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5.
Match Highlights
- De Minaur’s Persistence: The Australian exhibited remarkable tenacity in overcoming a first-set loss.
- First Set Dynamics: Van de Zandschulp began strongly, winning the first set 6-3 by achieving nearly 90% on first-service points.
- Tactical Shifts: The critical moment came in the second set when Van de Zandschulp squandered a break point due to a poorly timed drop shot.
- De Minaur’s Comeback: After losing the first set, de Minaur rallied to win the second in a tie-break, making key service plays.
Decisive Moments
During the final set, both players exchanged breaks early. However, the turning point occurred at 5-5 when de Minaur capitalized on a backhand error from Van de Zandschulp. This mistake allowed de Minaur to break serve, ultimately leading him to close out the match 7-5.
Post-match, de Minaur reflected on his performance, saying, “I would love to hit the ball a little bit cleaner and find my range.” He acknowledged moments of negativity during the game.
Upcoming Semifinals
De Minaur’s victory positions him for a semifinal clash against Frenchman Ugo Humbert. Humbert advanced after defeating Australian qualifier Christopher O’Connell convincingly with a score of 6-4, 6-1.
Other Semifinal Matches
- Felix Auger-Aliassime: The Canadian second seed will face local player Tallon Griekspoor.
- Alexander Bublik vs. Jaume Munar: Bublik, the third seed from Kazakhstan, competes against Spain’s Munar.
With top players Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner absent from the tournament, de Minaur’s aspirations for a title run in Rotterdam are bolstered. This year could mark a significant opportunity for him after being runner-up in the previous two years.
