Alex de Minaur defeats Felix Auger-Aliassime to win first indoor title of career in Rotterdam

A year ago, Carlos Alcaraz won his first indoor title in Rotterdam.

On Sunday, Alex de Minaur did the same.

The Australian captured the 11th ATP title of his career—and his first away from the elements—at the indoor event, and he did it against one of the best indoor players on the tour, defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets in the final, 6-3, 6-2.

He had lost in the final the last two years, to Jannik Sinner in 2024 and to Alcaraz in 2025, so this one was even sweeter.

“Yeah, I mean, third time lucky,” De Minaur said afterwards.

“Super stoked, super happy—I mean, it ended up being a great week here in Rotterdam, a place where I always feel really, really good. I was just a step short the last previous years.

“It feels great to finally lift the title.”

De Minaur’s path to the final wasn’t easy by any means—he barely survived giant-killer Botic van de Zandschulp in the quarterfinals on Friday, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5, after having to serve to stay in the match at 4-5 in the third set—but going into Sunday he had already made history, becoming the first player to reach three consecutive finals in the tournament’s 53-year history.

On paper, his final opponent should have been his toughest of the week—not only was Auger-Aliassime his first Top 10 opponent of the week, but eight of his nine career ATP titles had come indoors, including one just last week in Montpellier. He had also held all 39 of his service games leading up to the final.

But De Minaur saved his best for last, breaking the Canadian's serve three times—once in the first set and twice more in the second set, converting three of his five break point opportunities—and never even facing a break point himself en route to a surprisingly comprehensive 78-minute victory.

He finished it off with his first ace of the match, then was asked about playing his best match of the week in the final.

“That’s what it’s all about, doing my best to rise up to the occasion,” he said. “As the tournament goes on you try to find ways and solutions and try to give yourself the best chance to play better the following day, and I did exactly that. Every day I got better, and I’m super pleased with the performance today.”

De Minaur’s run in Rotterdam gives him his fourth career ATP 500 title, having previously won Acapulco in 2023 and 2024 and Washington D.C. in 2025, all on outdoor hard courts.

It was still an excellent week for Auger-Aliassime, who reached his 22nd ATP final—and ninth at the ATP 500 level or above.

Both De Minaur and Auger-Aliassime will now have a week off before returning to action at duelling ATP 500s the week after next, the Australian in Acapulco and the Canadian in Dubai.