Alcaraz wins first indoor title with win over De Minaur in Rotterdam

Alcaraz is the first Spaniard to win the title in Rotterdam

February 9, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz won his first indoor title – and his first title of any kind since last September – as he beat Alex de Minaur 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to win the Rotterdam Open on Sunday.

The Spaniard was pushed all the way by the dogged Australian, who fought hard throughout the match, but as De Minaur tired in the third, he snatched two breaks to clinch his first title of 2025.

It’s his 17th title in all, the perfect way to bounce back from the disappointment of losing in the quarter-finals at the Australian Open last month. He’s the first Spaniard to win the title in Rotterdam and he’s now broken his duck indoors., taking his record in finals to 17 and five.

“This week has been a really good week altogether, coming here with let’s say not feeling 100 percent well with the cold, but every day feeling better and better,” he said, directing his words toward his team.

“It has been a really special week for me, for winning the title but for the support I received from the first day. First time I play in Rotterdam and you made it like I’ve been playing this tournament for a long time.”

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Alcaraz strikes first

Wearing the nose strip he had been all week, Alcaraz struck first, breaking in the third game and holding his lead to 4-2, with De Minaur showing occasional signs that he was perhaps not at 100 percent, coughing into his shirt.

The Australian, appearing in the final for the second year in a row, won eight straight points to level at 4-4, matching Alcaraz for depth and precision from the baseline.

But Alcaraz broke again in the next game to lead 5-4 and then held from 15-30, thanks to a fine drop shot and more good aggression from the baseline.

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De Minaur hits back at start of second

De Minaur was not about to roll over, though, and after holding to open the second set, he immediately broke the Alcaraz serve and held again to lead 3-0.

A long fourth game saw De Minaur have two more break points but Alcaraz saved them both to get on the board, although third seed De Minaur maintained his advantage to 4-2.

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Brilliant defence, speed and then touch on the passing shot gave Alcaraz a break point in the next game but De Minaur saved it with a good serve-forehand combination and held serve again to go up 5-2 and two games later, he made no mistake, taking the set on his first opportunity.

Decider goes Alcaraz’s way

Alcaraz had a break point chance in the second game of the third set, but missed a forehand wide and De Minaur held on. The Australian pushed him to deuce at 2-2 but the Spaniard was equal to the challenge and had the advantage of serving first in the decider.

And the scoreboard pressure told as he forced two break points with a blistering backhand return winner and then clinched the break when De Minaur pushed a backhand wide when chasing down a drop shot.

That knocked the stuffing out of De Minaur and Alcaraz took full advantage to grab a second break and clinch victory.

“Carlos, too good again today,” De Minaur said. “I’ve had the runner-up trophy for two years now so hopefully one day I’ll get my hands on the winner’s one.”