Alex de Minaur has exacted sweet revenge on Andrey Rublev, defeating the Russian in a thrilling three-setter to advance to the semifinals of the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam. The Australian, who lost to Rublev in a five-set epic in the fourth round of the Australian Open last month, showed remarkable resilience and aggression to overcome the world No.5 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3. It was De Minaur’s second consecutive win over Rublev in Rotterdam, having beaten him in straight sets in the quarterfinals last year.
De Minaur, who improved his 2024 record against top-10 opponents to an impressive 4-1, said he had learned from his previous encounter with Rublev and backed himself to play more assertively. “I kept telling myself to be brave and go after it, because ultimately I can’t just run around against Andrey. He’s got too much power, too many weapons, and he’ll just dictate me from one side to the other,” he said. “So if I want to be effective against Andrey, I’ve got to back myself, I’ve got to try to be aggressive and hit the ball flatter and bigger than I normally do. In big moments, I played great, and it got me the win today.”
De Minaur rises to career-high ranking
The victory not only secured De Minaur a spot in his fifth career final at ATP 500 level, but also lifted him to a career-high ranking of No.9 in the world. The 23-year-old, who won his fifth ATP title in Antalya in January, has been in scintillating form this season, reaching the semifinals or better in four of his five tournaments. He also helped Australia reach the final of the ATP Cup, where they lost to Spain in a tight contest.
De Minaur said he was proud of his achievements and hoped to continue his momentum in the rest of the season. “It’s been an amazing start to the year. I’m really happy with how I’m playing, how I’m competing, and how I’m improving day in, day out. It’s a great feeling to be in the top 10, but I don’t want to stop here. I want to keep pushing myself and see how far I can go,” he said.
De Minaur faces Dimitrov for final berth
De Minaur will face another tough test in the semifinals, where he will meet sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria. Dimitrov, who reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, defeated Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 7-6(3) 6-4 in his quarterfinal match. The 30-year-old, who is ranked No.11 in the world, has won two of his three previous meetings with De Minaur, including their most recent clash in the 2019 US Open.
De Minaur said he was looking forward to the challenge and expected a high-quality match. “Grigor is a great player, very talented, very experienced. He’s been playing some great tennis lately, so I know it’s going to be a tough match. But I’m ready for it, I’m excited for it, and I’m going to give it my all,” he said.
