Alex de Minaur Storms into Rotterdam Open Semi-Finals, Faces Surprise Challenger Mattia Bellucci
Alex de Minaur continues his dominant run at the Rotterdam Open, blasting into the semi-finals with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 victory over German lucky loser Daniel Altmaier.
The World No.8 has been clinical, not dropping a set all tournament, and now sets his sights on Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci, who has pulled off a stunning Cinderella run in the Netherlands.
De Minaur’s Path to the Semi-Finals
- Defeated Jakub Mensik (Round of 16)
- Defeated Daniel Altmaier (Quarter-finals)
- Yet to drop a set in the tournament
De Minaur was initially expecting a semi-final showdown against longtime rival Stefanos Tsitsipas, who owns an 11-1 head-to-head record against the Aussie. However, in a major upset, Bellucci knocked out the sixth-seeded Greek star with a 6-4, 6-2 victory.
While De Minaur will not underestimate the in-form Italian, he must be relieved to avoid another clash with Tsitsipas, who has historically been a tough matchup for him.
Bellucci’s Dream Run
World No.92 Mattia Bellucci has been the breakout star of the Rotterdam Open, defeating:
✅ Daniil Medvedev (No.3 seed) in the second round
✅ Stefanos Tsitsipas (No.6 seed) in the quarter-finals
The 23-year-old Italian, who came through qualifying, admitted that his run has been life-changing:
“I know I’m playing against amazing opponents and every day is a big challenge because I am still not at this level,” Bellucci said.
“Maybe I can play two or three matches, but then I really have to keep the energy up. But I’m definitely looking forward to any new step.”
De Minaur Focused on First Rotterdam Title
De Minaur, last year’s runner-up to Jannik Sinner, has looked sharp and determined to go one step further.
“It felt like a battle with the opponent, the conditions, a little bit of everything out there,” De Minaur said after his win over Altmaier.
“I’m happy I managed to get up for it, play some good tennis, and dig very deep when I needed to.”
The Australian No.1 is now looking to become the first Aussie champion in Rotterdam since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004.
“Bellucci is having his breakout tournament,” De Minaur said.
“Beating Medvedev is a very, very tough task on any court – and he’s playing with a lot of confidence.”
What’s Next?
🇦🇺 Alex de Minaur (No.8) vs. 🇮🇹 Mattia Bellucci (No.92)
📅 Rotterdam Open Semi-Final – Saturday, February 8
A win would send De Minaur into his second straight Rotterdam final—and a chance to capture his first ATP 500 title of the season.
