Rotterdam: De Minaur Survives Massive Scare to Keep Title Dream Alive
Australian No. 1 battles past Van de Zandschulp to reach third consecutive semi-final in Rotterdam
By Henry Wancke
February 14, 2026 | 3 min read
ROTTERDAM — Top seed Alex de Minaur is through to the ABN AMRO Open semi-finals, but only after surviving a monumental scare against home favourite Botic van de Zandschulp in a 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-5 quarter-final thriller.
The world No. 8, chasing a third consecutive final appearance in Rotterdam, dug deep into his mental reserves to overcome a Dutchman playing well above his No. 68 ranking.
Match Summary
| Player | Result | Score | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex de Minaur (1) | Won | 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-5 | 2hr 44min |
| Botic van de Zandschulp | Lost | 6-3, 6-7(4), 5-7 |
De Minaur trailed 2-0 in the deciding set before mounting his comeback, saving five of seven break points faced—including three during a crucial service hold at 3-3 in the second set.
“It wasn’t looking too good about three quarters of the way through the match, but I managed to find some of my better tennis today at the end of the second set,” de Minaur said.
“Another great mental effort. I’m happy I got through.”
With this victory, de Minaur becomes just the second player in tournament history to reach three consecutive semi-finals, joining Dutch legend Tom Okker (1974-76).
| Player | Consecutive SF | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Okker | 3 | 1974-1976 |
| Alex de Minaur | 3 | 2024-2026 |
The Australian is now 15-2 on Dutch soil since the start of 2024, a tally that includes the 2024 ‘s-Hertogenbosch title.
Semi-Final Showdown
Awaiting de Minaur in Saturday’s last four is Ugo Humbert, who dispatched Christopher O’Connell 6-4, 6-1 to win his 10th consecutive quarter-final. Humbert’s only break came in the 10th game of the opener, after which he ran away with the match.
Bublik Joins Semi-Final Line-Up
In other quarter-final action:
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Alexander Bublik defeated Jaume Munar 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-6(3) in 2hr 42min
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The win marked Bublik’s 200th tour-level victory—a first for Kazakhstan
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He will face Felix Auger-Aliassime, who beat Tallon Griekspoor 7-6(2), 6-2
“When you play him, you know all the balls will come back,” Bublik said of Munar. “The grand plan was to get winners and shorten the points.”
Auger-Aliassime, last week’s Montpellier champion, extended his winning streak to seven matches.
| Match | Players |
|---|---|
| SF 1 | Alex de Minaur (1) vs Ugo Humbert |
| SF 2 | Alexander Bublik vs Felix Auger-Aliassime (2) |
De Minaur remains on course for a third straight Rotterdam final—but with Humbert, Bublik, and Auger-Aliassime standing in his way, the path won’t get any easier.