Alex de Minaur Surpasses Novak Djokovic in World Rankings Ahead of Rotterdam Open Final
Alex de Minaur has officially overtaken Novak Djokovic in the world rankings after reaching the Rotterdam Open final, where he will face Carlos Alcaraz. The 25-year-old Aussie has been in blistering form despite facing criticism for his Australian Open exit, where he became the first Australian male to reach the quarter-finals since 2015 before losing to eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
While he admitted the backlash initially felt like a “slap in the face,” De Minaur has refused to let it derail him. His relentless momentum continued in Rotterdam, where he defeated Mattia Bellucci in straight sets to secure his second final appearance at the event. Just as he did against Daniel Altmaier in the previous round, De Minaur was clinical under pressure, converting all four of his break point opportunities.
Now, in a significant career milestone, De Minaur has surpassed Djokovic in the ATP rankings, with the updated standings set to be announced next week. His consistency over the past two years is remarkable—he boasts a 30-1 record in his last 31 matches against opponents outside the top 10.
De Minaur’s Rise to World No. 6
Critics have often questioned De Minaur’s ability to challenge the sport’s elite, but considering that players like Sinner, Alcaraz, and Djokovic are among those ahead of him, his record speaks for itself. His ranking climb proves he is one of the most consistent performers on the ATP Tour.
After surpassing Daniil Medvedev by reaching the semi-finals, De Minaur is now set to finish the week at a career-high World No. 6. He also becomes the first male player to win 11 singles matches in 2025, with his only loss coming against Sinner.
Letting his racquet do the talking, De Minaur has a golden opportunity to silence more critics when he takes on Alcaraz in the final. Regardless of the result, many tennis fans have applauded his incredible form following the scrutiny he faced after the Australian Open.
De Minaur Embraces Aussie Fighting Spirit
Reflecting on his semi-final victory, De Minaur credited his relentless work ethic and trademark Aussie fighting spirit for his recent success.
“More than anything, I just show up every day and put my head down,” De Minaur said after reaching the final. “I do my best every time I step out on court. I try to win every point I can, and I’ve ended up having a couple of good weeks in a row.”
After helping Australia secure a Davis Cup qualifying win in Sweden last week, he now hopes to go one step further in Rotterdam and claim his first title of 2025.
Katie Boulter’s Positive Influence
Earlier in the week, De Minaur revealed that the pressures of playing his home Grand Slam weighed on him more than usual. However, he credited British No. 1 Katie Boulter, his girlfriend, for providing balance during the grueling tour schedule.
“It definitely does help the weeks that I’m with Katie. It makes it a lot easier to be so far away from home,” De Minaur told ATPtour.com. “These are long stints on the road, so it’s important to make life as normal as possible—going out for dinners, grabbing coffee, and enjoying time with the people around you. Whether it’s friends, players, or my team, that’s the best way to make time go quicker during these long stretches.”
As De Minaur prepares for another big test against Alcaraz, his focus remains on maintaining his momentum and proving he belongs among the sport’s elite.
