By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Alex de Minaur swept second-seeded Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the Rotterdam round of 16 vs. Maxime Cressy.
Photo credit: Getty
Echoes of Alex de Minaur's fast feet reverberated throughout Rotterdam's center court.
Facing the Aussie's unsettling court coverage, second-seeded Andrey Rublev couldn't stay in step.
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De Minaur broke in the third game of both sets sweeping 2021 champion Rublev 6-4, 6-4.
It was de Minaur's third win over Rublev in four meetings and snaps the world No. 25's streak of reaching at least the quarterfinals in all four of his prior ABN AMRO Open appearances.
Defusing Rublev's raging power with his skill taking the ball on the rise and redirecting, de Minaur spread the court shrewdly. Popping some serves as fast as 130 mph, the 6' Aussie won 28 of 32 first-serve points and did not face a break point.
A determined de Minaur will take on towering American Maxime Cressy in the round of 16 with the winner advancing to a quarterfinal vs. 2018 finalist Grigor Dimitrov.
The fifth-ranked Rublev, who was coming off an Australian Open quarterfinal appearance, suffered his third opening-round loss in his last four tournaments and will face further pressure this month. Rublev is defending more than 1,000-ranking points from his 2022 February surge that saw him win Marseille and Dubai championships back to back before reaching the Indian Wells semifinals where he bowed to eventual champion Taylor Fritz.
Crowding the baseline on return, de Minaur hammered a two-handed return provoking a wild forehand from Rublev that ballooned long for the break and a 2-1 lead.
Throughout the first set, de Minau showed a willingness to whip his forehand crosscourt into Rublev's rocket forehand to stretch the red-headed power player into one corner before driving the ball into the opposite corner forcing the second seed to defend his weaker backhand wing on the move. That tactic, combined with the fact de Minaur is much more comfortable closing at net than Rublev, helped him stretch the lead.
De Minaur backed up the break for 3-1 then gained another break point in the fifth game. Rublev resisted the pressure navigating a tricky hold.
Taking the ball on the rise, de Minaur worked the width of the court sometimes sending Rublev scurrying in the corners. De Minaur stamped a love hold to serve out the 37-minute opening set.
Striking low slice serves, the Aussie won 15 of 17 first-serve points and defended his second serve more rigorously than Rublev, who won just six of 16 second-serve points in the first set.
Trying to squeeze his drives closer to the lines, Rublev ran into a triple break point hole to star the second set.
Hammering his way through the danger, Rublev survived the stress for a hard-fought hold.
The speedy de Minaur can spook opponents with his court coverage compelling them to go for more than they should. Rublev fell victim to the speed trap netting a drive then badly butchering a relatively routine backhand volley to gift the break and a 2-1 second-set lead to the Australian.
Credit de Minaur for protecting his second serve more effectively and closing with efficiency to move into the round of 16.
Results for Wednesday, February 15
Grigor Dimitrov d. (5) Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(4), 7-6(5)
Hubert Hurkacz brought the heat on serve, but Grigor Dimitrov kept cool at crunch time to reach the Rotterdam quarterfinals for the fourth time.
Five years after Dimitrov finished as Rotterdam runner-up to Roger Federer, he showed tiebreaker toughness. Dimitrov withstood an outstanding 19-ace, 0 double-fault performance from Hurkacz, who served 69 percent.
Key Stat: Dimitrov won 12 of 14 trips to net beating former Miami Open champion Hurkacz for the third time in as many meetings. Dimitrov has won all four tiebreakers the pair have played.
Fun Fact: This is Dimitrov's first ATP quarterfinal since he reached the Vienna final four last October. Six of Dimitrov's eight career titles have come on hard court, including his last title: the 2017 ATP Finals.
2023 Records: Grigor Dimitrov 5-2; Hubert Hurkacz 6-4.
Ahead: World No. 28 Dimitrov awaits the winner of the round of 16 match between Maxime Cressy and the Andrey Rublev-Alex de Minaur winner.
Jannik Sinner d. Benjamin Bonzi 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
The 20-year-old Sinner smacked disruptive returns when it mattered most.
Sinner won 10 of 16 points played on Bonzi's serve in the final set to prevail in two hours, two minutes.
Key Stat: Sinner hit 14 more winners than Bonzi (35 to 21), including seven aces against no double faults.
Fun Fact: Montpellier champion Sinner is unseeded for the first time at a tournament since the 2021 Rome, breaking a streak of 36 straight seeded tournament starts.
2023 Records: Jannik Sinner 9-2; Benjamin Bonzi 6-6.
Ahead: The 14th-ranked Italian will take on top-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas for a quarterfinal spot. Australian Open finalist Tsitsipas has won five of their six meetings, including a five-set win in the AO round of 16 last month.