Alex de Minaur Falls Short in Rotterdam Final Again but Earns Admiration
For the second consecutive year, Alex de Minaur reached the Rotterdam Open final, only to fall short against a top-tier opponent. This time, he pushed world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz to the limit before ultimately succumbing 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in a hard-fought battle.
Despite the disappointment, the Aussie won over fans with his determined performance. His deep run in Rotterdam sees him climb to a career-high ranking of world No. 6, overtaking Novak Djokovic.
De Minaur’s Continued Pursuit of a Big Title
This defeat marks De Minaur’s sixth loss in a final against a top-10 player, with previous losses to Jannik Sinner, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz, Roger Federer, and Alexander Zverev.
A victory would have made him the first Australian to win the Rotterdam Open since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004—Hewitt remains the only Aussie champion in the tournament’s history.
Reflecting on the match, De Minaur remained optimistic about his progress:
“We’re pushing for bigger and better things. There’s been a lot of improvement in my game over the last couple of years, and I’m going to keep pushing for more. It’s been two years now with this runner-up trophy—I’m hoping I’ll get my hands on the winner’s one day.”
Battling Illness Throughout the Tournament
Speaking to reporters after the match, De Minaur revealed he had been under the weather all week:
“I’m just looking forward to getting into bed and hopefully getting some rest,” he admitted.
“I don’t need excuses. I went out there, competed, tried my best—it just wasn’t enough today.”
Alcaraz Triumphs in Sinner’s Absence
Jannik Sinner, who defeated De Minaur in last year’s final, withdrew from Rotterdam at the last minute to rest following his Australian Open victory.
Asked if he missed facing Sinner in the draw, Alcaraz playfully responded:
“Not really! Now that I’m holding the trophy, I’ll say I didn’t miss him in the tournament. It could have been great having him here—we probably could have played a great final. But this week has been really good for me. I came here not feeling 100% with a cold, but every day I felt better and better.”
Katie Boulter’s Playful Comment Sparks Speculation
Meanwhile, a cheeky comment from De Minaur’s fiancée, Katie Boulter, led to speculation about their personal life.
After De Minaur reached the final, Boulter tweeted:
“Get married = win Slam. Have a baby = win 500.”
Since De Minaur was competing in an ATP 500 final, many fans speculated that Boulter might be hinting at pregnancy. Even De Minaur joined in on the fun, responding:
“You got any ideas you wanna share with me???”
However, it was later clarified that Boulter was referencing fellow WTA players Madison Keys and Belinda Bencic—Keys won the Australian Open shortly after getting married, while Bencic recently claimed the Abu Dhabi title just months after giving birth.
Looking Ahead
Despite the heartbreak in Rotterdam, De Minaur continues to rise in the ATP ranks, proving he belongs among the sport’s elite. With his career-best ranking of world No. 6, he remains on track to claim a major title in the near future.
