For the third year in a row, Alex de Minaur found himself standing under the lights in Rotterdam on finals day. But this time, he didn’t leave with a runner-up trophy. This time, he got to lift the hardware.
De Minaur captured his 11th career ATP title-and his first ever on an indoor court-by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, in Sunday’s final. And make no mistake: this wasn’t just another win. It was a breakthrough moment for a player who’s been knocking on the indoor door for a while now.
De Minaur had come up short in the Rotterdam final the past two years, losing to Jannik Sinner in 2024 and Carlos Alcaraz in 2025. Both times, he played well enough to get there, but not quite well enough to finish the job. This time, he didn’t just finish-he dominated.
“Third time lucky,” De Minaur said with a grin after the match. “Super stoked, super happy-I mean, it ended up being a great week here in Rotterdam, a place where I always feel really, really good.
I was just a step short the last previous years. It feels great to finally lift the title.”
And it should. Beating Auger-Aliassime indoors is no small feat.
The Canadian has long been considered one of the more dangerous players on faster surfaces, thanks to his booming serve and aggressive baseline game. But De Minaur didn’t blink.
He absorbed the pace, redirected it, and dictated the tempo with his signature blend of speed, precision, and relentless pressure.
From the first ball, De Minaur looked locked in. He broke early, set the tone, and never let Auger-Aliassime settle into any kind of rhythm. The Aussie’s court coverage was elite, as always, but what stood out most was his willingness to step in and take control of points-something he's been working to evolve in his game over the past couple of seasons.
This win isn’t just about a trophy-it’s about growth. De Minaur has always been known for his grit and hustle, but adding a title like this, on a surface that hasn’t traditionally favored him, shows just how far he’s come.
He’s no longer just a threat on outdoor hard courts or grass. He’s becoming the kind of all-surface competitor who can make deep runs anywhere, anytime.
And with this Rotterdam title in hand, De Minaur just sent a message to the rest of the tour: he’s not just hanging around the top tier-he’s pushing to break through it.