Alex de Minaur has secured one of the most significant wins of his career by defeating world No 1-elect Alexander Zverev in a thrilling semi-final at the Vienna Open. The Australian triumphed 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4) after a tense deciding tiebreaker to set up a championship match against Carlos Alcaraz.
Victory Over Zverev
Saturday’s triumph carried massive implications, boosting De Minaur back into the top eight qualifiers for the ATP Finals ahead of the final qualifying event at the Paris Masters. Prior to this match, the world No 10 had never beaten Zverev in an individual tournament, having only secured previous wins in early-season team events and the Laver Cup.
De Minaur expressed immense pride in his composure during the crucial moments despite hitting a couple of double faults in the tiebreaker. He stated that he remained very calm and chose to play aggressively on his own terms.
The Australian showcased striking front-foot intensity and hit 25 winners, catching Zverev off guard and frustrating the German player. Zverev grew visibly irritated during the encounter, even receiving a time violation from umpire Arnaud Gabas for excessive ball-bouncing before a serve, though the official later rescinded the sanction after an argument.
Championship Clash With Alcaraz
De Minaur will now face Carlos Alcaraz in the final after the Spaniard defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) in the earlier semi-final. The upcoming match presents a tough hurdle for the Australian, who has lost all six of his previous encounters against Alcaraz, including a meeting at this year’s Australian Open.
Looking ahead to the final and his push for a third consecutive appearance at the season-ending tournament in Turin, De Minaur remarked that winning the ATP 500 event would make for a pretty decent week. He added that he remains happy with his competitive form and looks forward to finishing the season on a strong note.
