Alex de Minaur has advanced to the semifinals of the Vienna Open after a hard-fought victory over Matteo Berrettini. The Australian number one overcame the former Wimbledon finalist with a score of 6-1, 7-6(7-4) on Friday at the Wiener Stadthalle. This triumph marks de Minaur’s entry into his 30th tour-level semifinal and strengthens his bid for qualification in the end-of-season ATP Finals.
Facing de Minaur in the next round will be world number two Jannik Sinner, who defeated Alexander Bublik 6-4, 6-4 in his quarterfinal match. This upcoming matchup poses a significant challenge for de Minaur, as he has yet to secure a victory against Sinner in their previous 11 encounters. The last time they competed, Sinner took the win in Beijing but de Minaur managed to win a set for the first time against him in five years.
On court, de Minaur expressed his readiness for the challenge ahead. “I’m always ready, mate. I stay ready,” he stated. He reflected on his performance against Berrettini, noting, “I’m pleased with my level so far. I played some great tennis for about three quarters of that match. I’m gonna have to keep that level going forward.”
De Minaur’s victory over Berrettini was not without its tense moments. He initially dominated the first set, taking a commanding 5-0 lead thanks to his relentless speed and sharp returns. However, the second set proved more challenging as Berrettini mounted a comeback, breaking de Minaur’s serve twice and even saving three match points. Ultimately, de Minaur clinched the match in a tiebreak, showcasing his resilience by winning with a volley that marked his 21st winner of the match.
Despite his 33 unforced errors, de Minaur’s performance bolstered his position in the ATP standings, moving him closer to securing a spot in the prestigious ATP Finals in Turin. He currently sits in seventh place, just one victory away from surpassing Ben Shelton into sixth.
In related news, Felix Auger-Aliassime withdrew from the Swiss Indoors quarter-final due to injury, further impacting the ATP rankings. Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev joined de Minaur, Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner, and Novak Djokovic as confirmed participants in the Turin finals after his opponent, Tallon Griekspoor, withdrew due to injury.
As the Vienna Open progresses, all eyes will be on de Minaur as he aims to overcome Sinner and continue his impressive run in this year’s tournament.
