In a dramatic quarter-final at the Paris Masters, Alex De Minaur’s aspirations for qualifying for the ATP Finals took a significant blow after a hard-fought battle against Holger Rune. The match, which lasted two hours and 28 minutes, ended with Rune edging De Minaur 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, keeping his own slim hopes of qualification alive.
The encounter was a tense baseline duel, with both players exchanging powerful shots. However, De Minaur struggled with his serve, managing to land only 47% of his first serves. Rune capitalized on this inconsistency, launching 24 winners throughout the match, which ultimately tipped the scales in his favor.
“I had to adjust my game a little bit,” Rune reflected post-match. “It was a constant battle, but I handled the last few games really well. I went for it, and I’m very happy with the win.” His strategic adjustments allowed him to recover after initially losing a break in the deciding set.
With this victory, Rune improves his ATP ranking to 13th with 3,025 points and keeps alive his chances of making it to the season-ending ATP Finals. Meanwhile, De Minaur, currently in eighth place with 3,745 points, still occupies the final qualification spot but will have to fend off competition as he aims for his debut in Turin.
If Rune continues his strong performance and clinches a second Paris title—having previously won in 2022 against Novak Djokovic—he could close the gap to De Minaur to just 120 points. Nevertheless, De Minaur’s journey isn’t over yet; he will be competing at the ATP 250 event in Belgrade next week, seeking crucial points to solidify his Finals spot.
Reflecting on his match against Rune, De Minaur expressed determination despite the setback. “It’s disappointing, but I’ll regroup and focus on the next tournaments,” he said. “I know I have what it takes to qualify.”
As Rune prepares to face Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals, the stakes are high for both players. For Rune, it’s about maintaining his momentum in pursuit of another Masters title; for De Minaur, it’s about bouncing back and securing his place among the elite in Turin. The road ahead promises more thrilling tennis as both players strive for their goals in the closing weeks of the season.
Leave a Reply