Demon destroys qualifier, next escape from Alcaraz
AUSSIE star Alex de Minaur is through to another ATP Tour final, defending his achievement from 12 months prior. The eighth ranked talent – who will officially move up to sixth post-tournament – proved too good for 23-year-old Italian Mattia Bellucci.
Winning in quick fashion 6-1 6-2 in 67 minutes, de Minaur gave Bellucci no space to breathe during a defensive masterclass. Once again the Australian’s first serve percentage was atrocious (41 per cent) but he covers the court so well that he defends from a second serve to win 78 per cent of his first serve points and 69 per cent of his second serve points.
In total, he only lost 12 points off his serve and did not face a break point all match, while converting each of his four chances against the Italian. He hit double the amount of winners (14-7) and committed 18 unforced errors to Bellucci’s 33, with a return rating percentage of 22 to his opponent’s 53.
“He’s played with so much confidence this whole week and played some incredible tennis,” de Minaur said post-match. “I knew going in it was going to be a battle and he was going to play loose, the way he has all week long.
“I just had to do my best to stay with him early and see if I could get my chances early. Then it became a little bit more of an uphill battle for him, but he has a very, very bright future ahead, as well as so many more Italians.”
Unfortunately the task of winning the title gets significantly tougher in teh decider, when he takes on top seed and world number three, Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard fought past Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in a hard-fought three-set match, 6-4 6-7 6-3.
Alcaraz hit 36 winners to Hurkacz’s 32, while only committing two more unforced errors (40-38). He served half the amount of aces (5-10) with a first serve success rate of 80 per cent, and only being broken once early, before breaking Hurkacz three times during the match.
“Great level, great match, that’s all I could say,” Alcaraz said post-match of his interaction with Hurkacz at the net. “In that moment he was a bit tired. I know his frustrations at the end of the match, so I couldn’t say so much about it. I’m just really happy. I think we both played at such a high level, for the people as well. It was a great match.”
2025 ROTTERDAM OPEN ATP 500 – SEMI-FINALS RESULTS:
[1] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) defeated [8] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 6-4 6-7 6-3
[3] Alex de Minaur (AUS) defeated [Q] Mattia Bellucci (ITA) 6-1 6-2
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