Australian becomes first player to reach three straight Rotterdam finals as he chases elusive title
Alex de Minaur has etched his name into the Rotterdam history books by becoming the first player ever to reach three consecutive finals at the prestigious ATP 500 event—but Sunday’s championship match against Felix Auger-Aliassime represents far more than just another record.
The 26-year-old Australian saved all 10 break points he faced to defeat Ugo Humbert 6-4, 6-3 in Saturday’s semi-final, securing his place in Rotterdam history while setting up a crucial clash with the in-form Canadian.
Historic Achievement
De Minaur, who finished runner-up in each of the past two editions, is now the first player in tournament history to reach three straight championship matches.
The milestone surpasses even the achievements of three-time Rotterdam champion Roger Federer, with whom De Minaur had earlier equalled for consecutive quarter-final appearances (five straight years).
“I’m super proud of the efforts,” said De Minaur, the No. 8 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. “Today, again, there were a lot of tough moments, a lot of break points, a lot of tricky situations… But I managed to dig myself out of them and I’m super pumped to be in another final here and give myself another chance of hopefully getting the title”.
Why This Match Matters Most
Despite the historic achievement of reaching three consecutive finals, De Minaur’s Rotterdam story remains incomplete—he has lost both previous championship matches. In 2024, he fell to Jannik Sinner, and in 2025, he was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz.
This time, however, the path to glory looks clearer. Neither Sinner nor Alcaraz is standing in his way. Instead, De Minaur faces Auger-Aliassime, whom he trails 3-1 in their head-to-head series but knows he can beat.
The psychological weight of consecutive final defeats in Rotterdam cannot be overstated. Losing a third straight final at the same venue would risk turning De Minaur’s love affair with the tournament into a painful pattern of near-misses.
De Minaur’s Determination
Speaking after his semi-final victory, De Minaur made clear he knows what’s at stake.
“It’s my third final here, I have been in this same situation before, so the plan remains the same as before: go out tomorrow for the title. Then I don’t want any regrets, I don’t want to leave anything behind, although we know that anything can happen in the final. What I don’t want is to have thoughts the next day of ‘what would have happened if…’. There’s only one way to play these type of matches, and that is to go out there for the title, to go out to win, you can’t wait for the other to lose. Let’s hope it works this time and things go well,” he concluded with a smile.
Auger-Aliassime’s Hot Streak
De Minaur’s task won’t be easy. Auger-Aliassime later dispatched Alexander Bublik 6-1, 6-2 to extend his winning streak to eight matches having lifted his first trophy of the season in Montpellier last week.
The 25-year-old is into his ninth ATP Tour final, which is a new record for the most among Canadians in the Open Era. Sunday’s championship-match clash between the top two seeds will also mark Auger-Aliassime’s third title showdown in Rotterdam, where he won his maiden title in 2022.
The Canadian has been in devastating form, dropping just nine games across his last two matches against Tallon Griekspoor and Bublik.
Rotterdam Love Affair
De Minaur’s connection to Rotterdam runs deep. The No. 8 player in the PIF ATP Rankings also extended his lead for the most ATP 500 wins since the start of the 2023 season, with Rotterdam contributing significantly to that tally.
He has earned more wins (15) at the ABN AMRO Open than anyone else in this year’s field, demonstrating his affinity for the indoor hard courts and the venue itself.
The tournament has become a defining event in De Minaur’s season, with five consecutive quarter-final appearances matching Federer’s record and now three straight finals creating a new benchmark entirely.
The Mental Battle
“Every day when you come out on a streak, you don’t know if it will be the night it is going to end, but tonight wasn’t the night,” said Auger-Aliassime after his semi-final.
For De Minaur, the mental challenge is different. He’s creating history with his consistency in reaching finals, but consistency in losing them would be a cruel footnote to an otherwise remarkable achievement.
The Australian’s career has been marked by excellence at the ATP 500 level—he leads the Tour in wins at that tier since 2023—but major titles have proven elusive. With 10 ATP singles titles to his name, none have come at the ATP 500 level or above since his breakthrough years.
What Victory Would Mean
Breaking through in Rotterdam would represent more than just an 11th career title. It would:
- End the Rotterdam curse – Prove he can win when it matters most at his favorite tournament
- Boost confidence – Validate his top-10 status with a significant title
- Create momentum – Propel him into the rest of the season with belief
- Psychological edge – Demonstrate growth in handling pressure finals
Conversely, another final defeat—his third in Rotterdam, his second to a Canadian (after Auger-Aliassime in 2022)—would raise uncomfortable questions about his ability to close out big matches.
The Verdict
Alex de Minaur has created history by becoming the first player to reach three consecutive Rotterdam finals. But Sunday’s match against Felix Auger-Aliassime isn’t about records—it’s about redemption.
After falling short to Sinner and Alcaraz in the previous two years, De Minaur finally has a golden opportunity to claim the Rotterdam title that has eluded him. The pressure is immense, the stakes are high, and the importance of victory cannot be overstated.
As De Minaur himself said: there’s only one option tomorrow—go for the title. No regrets, no “what ifs,” just everything on the line in pursuit of finally conquering Rotterdam.
The history has been made. Now comes the hard part—winning when it matters most.
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