Top seed Alex De Minaur survived a fierce challenge from home favorite Botic van de Zandschulp, coming from a set down to win 3–6, 7–6(4), 7–5 in a high-intensity quarterfinal clash at the Rotterdam ATP 500.
With AHOY Arena nearly full and the crowd firmly behind the Dutchman, the match delivered drama, momentum swings and electrifying rallies from start to finish.
First Set: Van de Zandschulp Feeds Off the Crowd
The opening set was played at a high level, with Van de Zandschulp drawing energy from the home support. He created the first break opportunity in the fourth game but was unable to convert.
Two games later, the Dutchman stepped up again. This time he made it count, converting his second break point to move ahead. After consolidating the break with confident serving, he raced to a 5–2 lead.
Van de Zandschulp closed out the set comfortably on his next service game, taking it 6–3 and sending the crowd into celebration.
Second Set: Fine Margins and a Crucial Tie-Break
The second set remained tight throughout. Both players protected their serve effectively, with returners winning only isolated points.
At 3–3, De Minaur created pressure and earned three break points but failed to convert. Van de Zandschulp then had a break opportunity of his own, but the Australian held firm.
At 6–5, De Minaur missed a set point, pushing the set into a tie-break. This time, the top seed raised his level in the key moments, taking control of the breaker and winning it 7–4 to level the match.
Deciding Set: Composure Under Pressure
De Minaur carried the momentum into the third set, breaking early and moving ahead 2–0. However, fueled by the crowd, Van de Zandschulp responded immediately, recovering the break and keeping the contest balanced.
Both players held serve confidently until 6–5 in favor of De Minaur. Under pressure, Van de Zandschulp finally cracked, allowing the Australian to secure the decisive break.
De Minaur then served out the match calmly, sealing a hard-fought 3–6, 7–6(4), 7–5 victory.
Statistics Tell the Story
The numbers highlighted just how close the contest was. Van de Zandschulp fired 12 aces compared to De Minaur’s 4, but also committed 8 double faults, while the Australian had just 3.
Winners favored the Dutchman (33 to 15), yet the decisive factor was unforced errors — 60 from Van de Zandschulp compared to 33 from De Minaur.
In total points won, the margin was minimal: 111 for De Minaur and 108 for Van de Zandschulp.
Despite the crowd’s passionate support, the home favorite fell just short. With this victory, De Minaur advances to the semi-finals, where he will face Ugo Humbert.
For the full tournament overview and updated matchups, check the Rotterdam ATP 500 First Round Draw.