Alex De Minaur’s win over Ugo Humbert on Saturday sent him to a career-high ATP ranking of 8. His earlier career-high ranking was 9th, which he attained in February 2024. After defeating Sebastian Korda in the final, De Minaur secured a career-high ranking of No. 7. 18 years ago in 2006, Lleyton Hewitt became the only male Australian to rise as high as No. 7. Alex De Minaur has equaled his record.
This title is Alex De Minaur’s second grass-court title since Eastbourne International in 2021. It’s also the Australian’s ninth career title in 17 finals he’s played in. The 25-year-old magician has had an exciting performance this season, getting to three finals this season. He lost the Rotterdam final to Jannik Sinner in February. He’s defeated Taylor Fritz, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev, and Daniil Medvedev this season.
Alex De Minaur Wins The 1st Set
Sebastian Korda started the Libema Open final with a ferocious forehand, the same forehand that won him the semifinal clash against Tallon Griekspoor.
With Alex De Minaur on game point in the third game of the first set, Sebastian Korda controlled most of the point with his forehand until De Minaur changed the tempo of the rally with a drop shot that forced Korda to the net. A lob then finished off the point.
De Minaur pulled out the magic of the lob again in the sixth game of the first set to produce three breakpoints on Korda’s serve. Korda then undid himself with a double fault to give De Minaur the break of his serve and a 4-2 lead. After consolidating the lead, De Minaur broke the American’s serve in the eighth game to take the set.
Korda Overcomes A Quick De Minaur Break
Alex De Minaur showed incredible court coverage and command at the net on his serve in the first game of the second set. After an intended winner down the line was returned by Korda, nearly forming a passing crosscourt backhand winner, De Minaur covered the net quickly to produce a sleek drop shot.
On Korda’s serve in the second game and at deuce, Korda tried hitting a passing forehand past Alex De Minaur but the Australian covered every blade of grass, eventually forcing the American into a shot that went long. Alex De Minaur broke his serve one point later with an ejection of pace on his forehand return of Korda’s intended winner.
In the next game, Korda pulled De Minaur to two breakpoints, eventually breaking the Australian’s serve with an excellent return of serve. The American ended up consolidating the break on his serve, getting some salvation when the ball bounced off the net.
De Minaur Wins At The Death
Chasing a break of Alex De Minaur’s serve, Korda hoped for another favorable outcome at the net, but it served De Minaur this time, slowing his volley for De Minaur to smash a backhand slice at the net across the court.
In the sixth game of the set, Sebastian Korda undid himself again in almost deja vu fashion like the first set, gifting Alex De Minaur a break of his serve with a long forehand volley. Korda then fired himself back, pulling out scintillating forehands to produce three breakpoints in the very next game. De Minaur then pulled back to deuce before calling up the lob that served him well in the first set to hold his serve.
In the eighth game, Sebastian Korda squandered a game point on his serve, eventually having to struggle with numerous Alex De Minaur advantages before holding his serve. In the ninth game, he then pulled two breakpoints on De Minaur’s serve before breaking the Australian’s serve with a strong forehand.
Alex De Minaur then sealed the championship with a breakpoint in the 10th game of the set. It came after Sebastian Korda sent a forehand volley into the tramlines following a long rally.
Note:
Sebastian Korda is paired with Karen Khachanov in the first round of the Queen’s Club Championships. Alex De Minaur is paired with Lorenzo Musetti.
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Ebenezer has been an avid writer for over a decade and a half. Within that period, he has garnered experience in various fields such as editing, graphics design, transcribing, sales, data analysis, and football management. He’s also the author of the mystery thriller novel “The Eye of Ra.” For more articles by Ebenezer Ugorji, click here and here!
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