Alex de Minaur targets third straight Rotterdam semifinal against Van de Zandschulp

Alex de Minaur’s charge at the Rotterdam Open continues on Friday, Feb. 13 (ET), as the world No. 8 faces home favorite Botic van de Zandschulp in the quarterfinals. De Minaur arrives unbeaten in sets this week and riding a perfect head-to-head against the Dutchman, while Van de Zandschulp brings momentum from a statement win over a former world No. 3.

Quarterfinal stage set

De Minaur has reached at least the final in each of the past two editions in Rotterdam, and he is back in the last eight after efficient straight-sets wins over Arthur Fils and Stan Wawrinka. The Australian looked settled from the baseline and sharp on return against Wawrinka, reclaiming control immediately after being pegged back to 4-3 in the opening set and closing the match with two more breaks in the second for a 6-4, 6-2 result.

Van de Zandschulp has matched that clean run to the quarters. The Dutchman dismissed Luka Pavlovic in his opener and then delivered one of his best performances of the season to oust Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets. Tsitsipas jumped ahead 2-0 at the start, but Van de Zandschulp steadied, protected his serve the rest of the way, and sealed the upset in a second-set tiebreak.

The matchup: 3-0 for De Minaur

De Minaur leads the series 3-0 and 1-0 indoors. Their previous meetings underline the pattern: the Australian has repeatedly absorbed the Dutchman’s first strike and turned defense into offense. The results span best-of-three and best-of-five formats—5-7, 6-3, 6-4 at the 2022 Davis Cup Finals; 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 at the 2025 Australian Open; and 6-4, 6-4 shortly afterward in Doha—without dropping more than a set across the trio.

On an indoor hard court that rewards clean first-strike tennis but also precise counterpunching, De Minaur’s court coverage and redirecting ability have historically troubled Van de Zandschulp. The Dutchman’s path to flipping the script will hinge on sustaining first-serve pressure and shortening exchanges before De Minaur can neutralize.

Form check: clean sets and rising confidence

De Minaur’s two-win start this week has been businesslike. He has navigated momentum swings without panic—most notably against Wawrinka, where he answered a mid-set break with immediate resistance and finished with a flourish. With five quarterfinals in a row now under his belt this season, the Australian’s confidence in quick indoor conditions remains evident.

For Van de Zandschulp, the victory over Tsitsipas represents a timely jolt. It was composed and assertive, with improved stability off the forehand wing and clutch play in the second-set breaker. Backed by a partisan crowd, the world No. 65 projects as a dangerous opponent if he keeps his first-serve percentage high and finds early rhythm on the return.

What’s at stake

De Minaur is bidding for a third consecutive semifinal in Rotterdam and another push toward the title that has narrowly eluded him the last two years. A win would keep him on track for a potential weekend showdown with the winner of Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Tallon Griekspoor. Auger-Aliassime, the 2022 champion in Rotterdam, is on a six-match winning streak after lifting a trophy indoors last week, while Griekspoor is pursuing a home-tournament surge of his own.

For Van de Zandschulp, this is an opportunity to reach his first semifinal at Rotterdam and convert home-court energy into a signature run. Taking out a top-10 opponent indoors would mark one of his strongest results of the season.

Keys to the match

• First strike vs. counterpunch: Van de Zandschulp must land his first serve and finish behind his forehand before De Minaur extends rallies.
• Return depth: De Minaur’s ability to take returns early and keep the ball low indoors can blunt the Dutchman’s power and draw errors.
• Scoreboard pressure: If De Minaur gets early breaks, he can dictate with his movement and tempo; if Van de Zandschulp holds tight early, he brings the crowd into play.
• Composure in tight moments: Recent meetings swung on a handful of games; indoors, a single lapse on serve can decide a set.

Outlook

De Minaur enters as the favorite on form, surface, and head-to-head. His blend of speed, anticipation, and improved aggression has translated seamlessly to the Rotterdam courts this week. Van de Zandschulp’s level against Tsitsipas, however, suggests this could be closer than prior meetings if he serves at a high clip and leans into the home atmosphere. Expect stretches of sustained pressure from the Australian and a spirited response from the Dutchman, with the margins tilting toward De Minaur if rallies lengthen and returns bite.