Katie Boulter's Playful Jab at Alex de Minaur Following Rotterdam Open Triumph
Katie Boulter has delivered a light-hearted and cheeky message to her Australian partner, Alex de Minaur, after he broke his ATP title drought with a stunning victory at the Rotterdam Open over the weekend. De Minaur capped off a remarkable week by producing a masterclass performance to defeat the in-form Felix Auger-Aliassime, securing one of the most significant titles of his career to date.
A Long-Awaited Victory for the Determined Aussie
It was a case of third time lucky for the resilient Australian, who had previously fallen at the final hurdle in his last two attempts at the tournament. With this win, de Minaur joins the legendary Lleyton Hewitt as only the second Australian to ever claim the prestigious Rotterdam Open trophy. This achievement comes just one week after Boulter herself ended her own title drought with an emotional win over Tamara Korpatsch at the Ostrava Open.
Boulter couldn't resist poking fun at her fiancé for seemingly stealing her thunder, taking to social media with an adorable response. 'He just can't let me have a week,' she posted, accompanied by a laughing emoji. She added, 'Stop copying me. Another week, another title.'
De Minaur's Commanding Performance Against Auger-Aliassime
The Australian world number eight delivered some of his finest tennis on Sunday, dominating Canadian world number six Felix Auger-Aliassime with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-2 victory. Auger-Aliassime had arrived in Rotterdam riding high after winning the Montpellier Open the previous week, boasting an impressive streak of 78 consecutive service holds that seemed unbreakable.
However, de Minaur dismantled that serve in the first set and never looked back, clinching his first-ever indoor title in just 77 minutes. This win rewarded the dogged perseverance of the Sydneysider, who had lost the previous two finals at this hard-court tournament to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
'I mean, third time lucky,' beamed the 26-year-old champion. 'I'm so super happy. It ended up being a great week here, a place where I always feel really, really good. I was just a step short the previous years, so it feels great to finally be able to lift the title.'
Overcoming a Formidable Opponent and Personal Rivalry
Although the sport's top two players were absent from the Netherlands this week, Auger-Aliassime had been in the form of his life, having demolished Alexander Bublik in the semi-finals in what he described as a near-perfect performance. Yet de Minaur, who became the first player to reach three consecutive finals at the Ahoy Arena tournament, elevated his game to a new level.
Emulating 2004 winner Lleyton Hewitt, de Minaur aggressively attacked from the baseline and never allowed the 25-year-old indoor specialist to settle into the match. He broke Auger-Aliassime's serve in the sixth game with two scintillating passing shots and maintained relentless pressure throughout.
In a stark contrast to his semi-final struggle against Ugo Humbert, where he managed only three winners, de Minaur unleashed ten beautiful winners in the final. Meanwhile, the Canadian, despite his superior firepower, could only muster six. Auger-Aliassime's dazzling form from earlier in the week was stifled by de Minaur's constant pressing, and near the end, the Canadian required treatment for an apparent hip issue, possibly due to fatigue from his eight-match winning streak.
A Significant Milestone in de Minaur's Career
This victory should not be diminished by Auger-Aliassime's physical concerns, as de Minaur delivered an exceptional performance against a long-time rival. The pair have faced each other ten times since their junior days, with Auger-Aliassime previously holding a 6-3 advantage. However, after the match, the Canadian admitted, 'Alex was just a bit too good.'
'For sure, it was my best tennis of the week, and that's what it's all about, just doing my best to rise up to the occasion,' said de Minaur, who secured three breaks of serve without conceding a single break point on his own delivery.
Impressing even royal watchers, with Prince Constantine of the Netherlands seated courtside, de Minaur declared, 'Every day I got better, and I'm super pleased with the performance.' This win marks his fifth triumph in an ATP 500 event, the tier just below Masters and Grand Slam tournaments. Since the start of 2023, he has won more matches at this level than any other player, with 53 victories.
De Minaur will undoubtedly hope to use this early-season success as a springboard for achieving greater heights at the sport's highest levels. His 11th ATP title places him joint-sixth alongside Australian greats Mark Philippoussis and Pat Rafter on the all-time Australian men's champions list in the open era, a testament to his growing legacy in the sport.
