De Minaur Edges Out Local Icon Van de Zandschulp

Alex de Minaur secured a hard-fought victory over Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp in a thrilling quarter-final match. The encounter took place in Rotterdam, where de Minaur edged out his opponent with a scoreline of 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5. This win is particularly significant as van de Zandschulp had never previously advanced to the quarter-finals of his home tournament.

Match Highlights

The match showcased both players’ competitive spirit. Van de Zandschulp initially took control by winning the first set 6-3. He achieved this by successfully converting nearly 90% of his first-service points. However, de Minaur struggled mentally but displayed resilience.

• First Set: Van de Zandschulp won 6-3
• Second Set: De Minaur fought back, winning 7-6 (7-4)
• Final Set: De Minaur clinched it 7-5

Crucial Moments

The second set was pivotal. Van de Zandschulp had a critical opportunity to break de Minaur’s serve during the seventh game but failed to convert a break point. A double fault and solid serving from de Minaur allowed him to win the tie-break 7-4. Van de Zandschulp’s attempt to secure the second set faltered when he hit a backhand into the net.

In the deciding set, both players exchanged breaks early. However, de Minaur capitalized on an error from van de Zandschulp to break serve at 5-5, ultimately closing out the match. De Minaur remarked on the mental challenges he faced, saying, “It was nothing short of a battle. It was topsy-turvy but a huge mental effort on my part.”

Looking Ahead

This victory sets the stage for de Minaur’s semi-final match against Frenchman Ugo Humbert. Humbert defeated Australian qualifier Christopher O’Connell 6-4, 6-1 in his quarter-final. De Minaur hopes to finally capture the title in Rotterdam after consecutive losses in the final to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in previous years.

In the other half of the draw, second-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime will face local player Tallon Griekspoor. The quarter-final lineup also includes third-seeded Alexander Bublik from Kazakhstan, who will compete against Spain’s Jaume Munar.

With neither Alcaraz nor Sinner in the tournament, de Minaur’s chances for success have significantly increased, making this year’s Rotterdam Open a pivotal moment in his career.