Alex de Minaur’s Stellar Vienna Run Propels Him Back to No. 6
On October 28, 2025, Australia’s Alex de Minaur reclaimed his career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 6 following a strong semifinal showing at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. The 26-year-old, seeded third at the ATP 500 indoor hard-court event, earned 300 ranking points for his run, which included his 300th career tour-level victory and a tour-leading 40th hard-court win of the season. This vaulted him up from No. 7, swapping places with American Ben Shelton, while solidifying his position in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin at seventh (3,745 points)—just 125 points behind sixth-placed Shelton.
De Minaur’s performance caps a resilient 2025 campaign (52-19 record), marked by three ATP 500 titles (Acapulco, Washington, and another earlier win) and consistent deep runs despite a mid-season hip injury. With the Paris Masters this week offering a chance to clinch his second straight Nitto ATP Finals berth, the Sydneysider heads into the final stretch with momentum.
#### De Minaur’s Path to the Vienna Semifinals
De Minaur arrived in Vienna on a mission to boost his ATP Finals hopes, entering as the No. 3 seed after a quarterfinal exit in Shanghai. He didn’t drop a set en route to the last four, showcasing the speed and counterpunching that have defined his resurgence. Key matches:
– **R16: def. Jurij Rodionov (WC, No. 154) 6-4, 6-1** – A milestone opener, marking his 300th ATP win (second player born in 1999 or later, behind Jannik Sinner) and extending his hard-court win streak to 38.
– **QF: def. Filip Misolic (WC) 6-4, 6-4** – De Minaur broke early in both sets against the local hopeful, advancing to his fifth quarterfinal of the year.
– **QF: def. Matteo Berrettini (No. 36) 6-1, 7-6(4)** – A dominant display over the former Wimbledon finalist, where de Minaur hit 40 winners and saved all four break points. This win made him the first player in 2025 to reach 40 hard-court victories.
– **SF: lost to Jannik Sinner (No. 1) 6-3, 6-4** – Despite a valiant effort (12-0 H2H deficit to Sinner), de Minaur couldn’t crack the World No. 1’s serve, firing 24 winners but committing 22 unforced errors in a tight 1-hour-32-minute affair.
Sinner went on to win the title over Alexander Zverev, but de Minaur’s run netted him €200,000+ in prize money and crucial points toward Turin.
The Rankings Boost: From No. 7 to No. 6
De Minaur’s 300 points from Vienna were pivotal, especially with points dropping from last year’s Basel quarterfinals. This propelled him past Shelton (who fell after an early Basel exit) and back to the No. 6 perch he first hit in February 2025 (post-Rotterdam final) and July (after Wimbledon). He’s now projected to hold this spot through Paris, barring a deep run from challengers like Taylor Fritz (No. 8) or Tommy Paul (No. 9).
Other Key Movers This Week
Vienna and Basel delivered shake-ups across the top 50. Here’s a snapshot of the biggest shifts post-October 28 rankings:
| Player | Previous Rank | New Rank | Change | Key Result |
|——–|—————|———-|——–|————|
| **Alex de Minaur (AUS)** | 7 | 6 | +1 | SF in Vienna (def. Berrettini; lost to Sinner) |
| **Ben Shelton (USA)** | 6 | 7 | -1 | R32 in Basel (lost to Etcheverry) |
| **Casper Ruud (NOR)** | 11 | 9 | +2 | F in Basel (lost to Fonseca) |
| **Félix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)** | 12 | 10 | +2 | QF in Basel (lost to Ruud) |
| **João Fonseca (BRA)** | 70 | 28 | +42 | W in Basel (def. Davidovich Fokina) |
| **Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP)** | 16 | 15 | -1 (but career-high) | F in Basel (lost to Fonseca) |
| **Alexander Zverev (GER)** | 3 | 3 | 0 | F in Vienna (lost to Sinner) |
| **Lorenzo Musetti (ITA)** | 13 | 12 | +1 | SF in Vienna (lost to Zverev) |
Jannik Sinner remains at No. 1 (closing on Carlos Alcaraz), while Novak Djokovic holds No. 4 despite skipping Paris.
Tennis World Reacts: Momentum for the Demon
De Minaur’s run sparked buzz on X, with fans and pundits hailing his consistency (72.9% win rate, fifth on Tour) and Finals trajectory. Posts highlighted his 52nd win of 2025 and unbreakable spirit against Sinner. As one analyst noted, “De Minaur is the picture of reliability—40 hard-court wins already? That’s elite.”
Engaged to British star Katie Boulter (who retired injured in Hong Kong yesterday), de Minaur’s form offers a bright spot amid her challenges. Eyes now turn to Paris: a title there could lock in Turin and push him toward No. 5. The Demon is back on the hunt. 🇦🇺🎾
