Rotterdam – Alex de Minaur continued his impressive run at the ABN AMRO Open on Friday, battling past home favorite Botic van de Zandschulp in a hard-fought quarterfinal match. The top-seeded Australian secured his spot in the semifinals for the third consecutive year at the tournament, prevailing 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-5 in a contest that lasted two hours and 44 minutes. The victory sets up a semifinal clash with Ugo Humbert on Saturday.
De Minaur, currently ranked No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings, faced a stern test from Van de Zandschulp, who enjoyed strong support from the Dutch crowd. Despite a shaky start, the Australian demonstrated resilience and mental fortitude to overcome a determined opponent. He admitted after the match that it wasn’t a straightforward victory. “I’m happy I got through,” de Minaur said. “It wasn’t looking too good about three quarters of the way through the match, but I managed to find some of my better tennis today at the end of the second set. Another great mental effort.”
A Match of Contrasts and Comeback Spirit
Van de Zandschulp started strongly, dictating play with powerful groundstrokes and securing the first set 6-3. Though, de Minaur refused to yield, showcasing his defensive skills and ability to absorb pressure. The second set proved to be a tight affair, eventually going to a tiebreak which de Minaur won 7-4. This shift in momentum proved crucial as the match headed into a deciding third set.
The third set saw both players trading blows, with Van de Zandschulp briefly taking a 2-0 lead. De Minaur, however, dug deep, saving five of seven break points he faced throughout the match, including three at a critical juncture at 3-3 in the second set, according to Infosys ATP Stats. He ultimately broke back and secured the set 7-5, sealing his place in the semifinals.
De Minaur’s Dominance in Rotterdam Continues
This victory extends de Minaur’s impressive record at the ABN AMRO Open. He is now just the second player in tournament history to reach three consecutive semifinals, joining Tom Okker, who achieved the feat between 1974 and 1976. The 26-year-old boasts a remarkable 15-2 record on Dutch soil since the beginning of 2024, including a title win at ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 2024.
De Minaur’s head-to-head record against Van de Zandschulp now stands at 4-0, highlighting his consistent success against the Dutch player. This latest win underscores his ability to perform under pressure and adapt to different playing styles.
Semifinal Showdown with Humbert Awaits
Awaiting de Minaur in the semifinals is Ugo Humbert, who earlier on Friday secured his place in the last four with a convincing victory over Christopher O’Connell, winning 6-4, 6-1. Humbert has been in impressive form, winning his 10th consecutive ATP Tour quarter-final. The Frenchman broke O’Connell in the 10th game of the first set to capture it, and then raced through the second set in 77 minutes.
The match between de Minaur and Humbert promises to be a captivating encounter, pitting two of the tour’s most in-form players against each other.
Bublik and Auger-Aliassime Also Advance
In other quarterfinal action, Alexander Bublik achieved a milestone victory, overcoming Jaume Munar 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-6(3) to secure his 200th tour-level win, becoming the first Kazakhstani player to reach that mark. Bublik fended off 91 percent of the break points he faced and fired 61 winners. He will face second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals, after Auger-Aliassime defeated Tallon Griekspoor 7-6(2), 6-2, extending his winning streak to seven matches.
THAT is a comeback 🤹♂️@alexdeminaur reaches the Rotterdam semi-finals for the third successive year!@abnamroopen | #abnamroopen pic.twitter.com/d5PjzSkl9q
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 13, 2026
The semifinals at the ABN AMRO Open are now set, with de Minaur facing Humbert and Bublik taking on Auger-Aliassime. Fans can expect compelling matches as these players battle for a place in the final. The tournament continues Saturday with the semifinal matches, promising more thrilling action from Rotterdam.
