Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur has resurrected his ATP Finals campaign with a commanding victory over American Taylor Fritz, keeping his hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive after two devastating opening losses.
From Heartbreak to Triumph
The seventh seed produced a dominant performance at Turin's Inalpi Arena on Thursday, securing a 7-6(3), 6-3 victory that marked his first ever win at the prestigious season-ending tournament. De Minaur's relief was palpable as he roared in celebration and gestured to the crowd to raise the atmosphere before signing 'Finally' on the camera lens.
"I've dealt with a fair bit of heartbreak recently," de Minaur confessed after the match. "It was good to finally get a win here in Turin. I've worked really hard so it was good to get some positive feedback or a positive reward for the hard work."
Mental Battle After Crushing Defeats
The victory came as a crucial response to what de Minaur described as "mentally killing" losses from winning positions. His tournament had begun with disappointment against Carlos Alcaraz, where he led 5-3 in the first-set tiebreak before collapsing.
Even more painful was Tuesday night's defeat to Lorenzo Musetti, where de Minaur served for the match in the final set only to lose in three sets. "That was a tough pill to swallow," he admitted, reflecting on the match that left him on the brink of elimination.
Clinical Performance Under Pressure
Facing elimination and aware he needed a straight-sets victory to maintain any qualification hopes, de Minaur delivered a relentlessly attacking display. He withstood a late rally from Fritz and capitalised on the American's nerves throughout the contest.
The match featured 33 unforced errors from Fritz, who cut a deflated figure, while de Minaur maintained his composure despite facing pressure at 5-2 in the second set. Unlike his collapse against Musetti, the Australian closed out the match emphatically with two venomous aces, including on match point.
"I didn't do much, I didn't overthink today," de Minaur explained of his changed approach. "I just went out, committed to what I needed to do. There were some tough moments out there but ultimately I continued to back myself."
Semi-Final Hopes Hang in Balance
De Minaur's tournament fate now rests entirely on the outcome of Thursday's later match between Lorenzo Musetti and Carlos Alcaraz. The scenarios are clear-cut: if Musetti wins, the Italian qualifies as group winner with Alcaraz second, eliminating de Minaur. However, if already-qualified Alcaraz triumphs, de Minaur will join him in the semi-finals.
When informed of the qualification scenario during his on-court interview, de Minaur responded with surprised disbelief: "Is that actually true? I don't trust you right now." He revealed he had "made my peace" before the match, focusing only on his performance rather than external circumstances.
The victory represents de Minaur's first top-10 win of the season outside team events, providing a significant confidence boost regardless of whether he progresses further in the tournament.
