Alex de Minaur came agonizingly close to capturing his first ATP title of the season in Rotterdam—but once again, Carlos Alcaraz stood in his way. The World No. 8 fought fiercely against the four-time Grand Slam champion, forcing a third set before ultimately falling 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in the final.
Despite the loss, de Minaur believes Alcaraz is a more favorable matchup for him than his other big-name rival—Jannik Sinner. And given his winless record against the Italian, it’s easy to see why.
De Minaur: “I Can Pin Alcaraz Down—But Sinner? Not Yet.”
Speaking after the final, de Minaur admitted that Alcaraz presents a tough challenge, but one he feels he can disrupt with his speed and aggressive counterpunching.
“When I play Carlos, we always have very tough battles. It’s just about these matches going my way,” he said.
But when asked about Sinner—who holds a 10-0 record against him, dropping only one set in those ten meetings—de Minaur had a much different response.
“It’s definitely a better matchup for me playing Carlos,” he continued. “I feel, in ways, I can rush him a little bit; I can pin him and hurt him and make his life uncomfortable. But I haven’t really managed to do that against Jannik yet.”
It’s a brutal but honest assessment—while Alcaraz’s dynamic shot-making can be countered with speed and pressure, Sinner’s relentless baseline power and precision have left de Minaur with no answers so far.
Sinner’s Dominance: A Nightmare Matchup for the Aussie
De Minaur’s struggles against Sinner reached another level at the Australian Open, where the World No. 1 dismantled him in straight sets (6-3, 6-2, 6-1) in the quarterfinals.
That wasn’t just another loss—it was a statement from Sinner, who has now beaten de Minaur ten times without defeat. The Aussie has tested Alcaraz, pushing him to three sets twice in their three encounters. But against Sinner? It’s been one-sided domination.
The Harsh Reality of Tennis Matchups
Tennis isn’t just about rankings—it’s about how styles clash. De Minaur, who thrives on quick movement and defensive skills, finds ways to disrupt Alcaraz’s rhythm. But against Sinner, his weapons have been neutralized time and time again.
He put it best himself:
“A lot of people in the tennis world know this. It’s the fun thing about tennis—that just because one guy is ranked higher, it doesn’t mean he will always win.”
What’s Next for De Minaur?
Despite the Rotterdam setback, de Minaur continues to prove he belongs in the ATP’s elite tier. He has pushed Alcaraz to his limits and is showing steady improvement.
But if he truly wants to break through to the sport’s absolute pinnacle, one challenge remains: solving the Jannik Sinner puzzle.
Until then, he may have a better shot against Alcaraz—but to win the biggest titles, he’ll eventually have to get past Sinner, too.