Rotterdam, Netherlands
Alex de Minaur loved the proper twenty fifth birthday current due to his straight-sets victory over Grigor Dimitrov on Saturday in Rotterdam.
De Minaur broke Dimitrov within the first recreation of each units en path to a 6-4 6-3 victory over the previous world No.3.
The outcome sends the Aussie by way of to the ultimate of the ATP 500 match – his fifth profession closing at this stage – and additionally noticed him avenge final 12 months’s quarterfinal defeat to Dimitrov in Rotterdam, from match factors up.
“I’m extraordinarily pleased with the extent all through the entire match. It was in all probability one of many higher matches I’ve performed from begin to end,” stated De Minaur, who has now gained 4 of his previous 5 conferences in opposition to the Bulgarian.
“That is my customary. That is what I’ve bought to carry each single time I stroll on the court docket. That’s how I’m going to play my finest tennis.
“I believe I made a giant step in the correct path, displaying the kind of tennis I can play, week in, week out.
“I believe I’ve raised the bar a bit bit and hopefully there’s lots extra to go.”
It’s been precisely 20 years since an Australian has reached the Rotterdam singles closing; Lleyton Hewitt went on to win the 2004 title.
De Minaur will try and emulate his mentor and Davis Cup captain when he performs Sunday’s closing in opposition to Jannik Sinner.
Sinner, the current Australian Open champion, is an ideal 11-0 in 2024 and is using a 14-match successful streak.
He additionally leads the head-to-head collection in opposition to De Minaur 6-0, most lately beating the Aussie in November’s Davis Cup closing.
Aussies in motion – Rotterdam
RESULTS
Males’s singles, semifinals
[5] Alex de Minaur (AUS) d [6] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 6-4 6-3
COMING UP
Males’s singles, closing
[5] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v [1] Jannik Sinner (ITA)
Discover your technique to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on court docket and have some enjoyable!