Alex de Minaur Advances to Rotterdam Semi-Finals, Admits Serving Needs Improvement
Alex de Minaur is enjoying another impressive campaign at the Rotterdam Open, just as he did in 2024. The 25-year-old Aussie has once again showcased his consistency, reaching the semi-finals for the fourth consecutive year.
After a strong start to the season, including a quarter-final run at the Australian Open, de Minaur is now one win away from making back-to-back Rotterdam Open finals.
De Minaur’s Road to the Semi-Finals
- Defeated Jakub Mensik in the round of 16.
- Overcame Germany’s Daniel Altmaier to reach the last four.
- Looking to improve on last year’s runner-up finish, where he lost to Jannik Sinner (5-7, 4-6) in the final.
Despite his strong performances, De Minaur has been critical of his own game, identifying a major weakness he needs to address.
De Minaur Calls His Serving Stats ‘Embarrassing’
In a recent ATP Tour video, De Minaur reacted to his 2024 season statistics, where he was ranked 74th in serve quality—a ranking he found alarming.
| Attribute | Rating | ATP Tour Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Serve quality | 7.48 | 74th |
| Return quality | 7.17 | 6th |
| Forehand quality | 7.69 | 27th |
| Backhand quality | 7.50 | 14th |
“74th on tour in serve quality? That is embarrassing,” he admitted.
“I really didn’t have a problem with my serve until I was told that… I’ve got to work on it.”
While acknowledging this weakness, de Minaur also took a positive perspective on his stats:
“I think I’m overachieving with my stats.”
His world-class return game (ranked 6th on tour) has helped him overcome his serve struggles, but he now sees improving his serve as a key focus moving forward.
Rotterdam Open Semi-Final: De Minaur vs. Bellucci
De Minaur will face Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci in the semi-finals.
Bellucci’s Surprise Run
- Defeated Daniil Medvedev (World No. 3) in the second round.
- Knocked out Stefanos Tsitsipas (World No. 7) in the quarter-finals.
- Reached his first-ever ATP semi-final.
Head-to-Head & Key Stats
- First meeting between the two players.
- Bellucci is ranked No. 92, while De Minaur is No. 9.
- De Minaur has won 29 of his last 30 matches against players outside the top 30.
Bellucci will be looking for his second career top-10 victory after shocking Medvedev earlier this week.
With a spot in the final on the line, de Minaur will need to bring his best—including an improved serve—as he aims for his first Rotterdam Open title.
What’s Next?
The Rotterdam Open semi-final between De Minaur and Bellucci takes place on Saturday, February 8.
A victory would give De Minaur a chance at redemption after finishing runner-up in 2024—and would further solidify his place among the ATP Tour’s most consistent players.
