Alex de Minaur is aiming to secure his first title at the Rotterdam Open, having fallen short in previous finals against top contenders Jannik Sinner in 2024 and Carlos Alcaraz last year. As the tournament’s number one seed, he enters the competition seeking his 11th ATP title. Facing him in the opening round was Stan Wawrinka, who, despite being 40 years old, showed he still has the prowess to compete at a high level.
De Minaur kicked off the match aggressively, gaining an early break to establish a 3-1 lead. Wawrinka responded with a break of his own, but the Australian quickly regrouped, breaking back and ultimately holding serve to take the first set. In the second set, de Minaur maintained his momentum, embarking on a five-game winning streak that emphasized his control. Although Wawrinka halted the trend momentarily, he struggled to keep pace with de Minaur, who sealed his victory and advanced to the quarter-finals with a relentless performance.
In parallel, Felix Auger-Aliassime is on a quest for back-to-back titles after his recent triumph at the Open Occitanie, moving closer to this goal after defeating Hamad Medjedovic in straight sets. Auger-Aliassime, a former Rotterdam finalist, demonstrated his experience by breaking early and maintaining composure throughout the match to secure another quarter-final appearance.
The tournament has taken a dramatic turn for Stefanos Tsitsipas, who continues to face difficulties after losing to local favorite Botic van de Zandschulp. Tsitsipas began the match well but failed to capitalize on his opportunities, resulting in another early exit from the competition. Meanwhile, Ugo Humbert found success by overcoming Dutch player Guy Den Ouden, and Jaume Munar capitalized on Karen Khachanov’s ongoing struggles, eliminating the fifth seed to reach the quarter-finals.
The ongoing competitions in Rotterdam showcase the thrilling dynamics of the ATP tour, highlighting not only the rise of emerging talents like de Minaur and Auger-Aliassime but also the challenges faced by seasoned players such as Tsitsipas and Wawrinka. As the tournament progresses, fans can anticipate more exciting matchups and potential upsets.