Australian tennis player Alex de Minaur has made his mark at the ABN AMRO Open, continuing his strong start to the 2025 season with an impressive victory over rising star Jakub Mensik. De Minaur, the third seed at the indoor hard-court ATP 500 event held at the Rotterdam Ahoy arena, triumphed over Mensik with scores of 6-4 and 6-4, securing his spot in the quarter-finals for the fourth consecutive year.
De Minaur's performance was characterized by his exceptional service game. He did not face any break points, showcasing his ability to dominate during pivotal moments. The match, which lasted 88 minutes, was one where de Minaur remained calm, leaning on his experience to navigate against Mensik, who is noted for possessing one of the best serves on the Tour.
"It's never easy playing Jakub; he's one of the best servers on Tour," de Minaur stated post-match. This recognition of Mensik's capabilities signifies De Minaur's respect for his opponent, even as he delivered what many would call a masterclass.
Mensik, at only 19, is currently the top male teenage tennis talent globally, holding the world No. 47 ranking. Despite his age, he has garnered significant attention for his aggressive playing style. Unfortunately, he struggled to find his rhythm against the seasoned Australian, who capitalized on every opportunity. De Minaur noted, "One of the key things for me is being calm and telling myself I’m going to give myself chances on return,” emphasizing the mental aspect of his game.
The match's turning points came through de Minaur's relentless returns, where he was able to create eight break point chances, converting one per set, which proved to be sufficient against Mensik's heavy-hitting style. "I definitely took a little bit of speed off [the serve] and focused more on percentage. I didn’t want to give him too many looks on second serves," de Minaur explained, highlighting his strategic approach to the matchup.
This victory signifies not just another win on the ATP circuit for de Minaur but also underlines his return to form following injury struggles throughout the previous year. Now with his record improving to 9-1 for the year, he looks poised to make another run deep within the tournament he was previously runner-up to Jannik Sinner in the last edition.
Looking forward, de Minaur is set to face German lucky loser Daniel Altmaier, who pulled off a surprise against Frenchman Arthur Fils to advance. De Minaur's recent successes and his matching up against Altmaier offers him the opportunity to reach the semi-finals as he aims for his first title of the year.
The Australian has amassed 31 wins at ATP 500 tournaments since the beginning of the 2023 season, and should he win his quarter-final matchup, he would tie with Jannik Sinner for the most wins at this level on Tour. With every match, de Minaur reaffirms his prowess, and his statement about his motivations reflects the commitment he has to improving: "Every year I finish the Davis Cup and some players go on holiday, whereas I just focus on preparation," he shared.
At the moment, things certainly seem to be coming together for the world No. 8 as he eyes the championship. He has established himself firmly on the Tour and continues to garner respect from both peers and fans alike.
De Minaur’s performance this week has not only showcased his skills but has also highlighted the shifting dynamics within the ranks of professional tennis, where both seasoned players and the next generation are continuously pushing one another to higher standards.
With the tournament progressing, many will be eager to see if Alex de Minaur can capitalize on his current form and advance to not just the semi-finals, but potentially reclaim the title he narrowly missed out on last season.