On Tuesday, Alex de Minaur advanced to the second round of the ATP Rotterdam Open with an impressive performance, defeating Belgium’s David Goffin 6-2, 6-4. This victory marked the Australian third seed’s sixth consecutive win over the former World No. 7, maintaining a perfect 6-0 record in their ATP head-to-head encounters.

Last year’s finalist in Rotterdam, De Minaur showcased his incredible form, covering the court with his signature speed and converting defensive situations into aggressive counterattacks. He outperformed Goffin with 24 winners compared to Goffin’s 13 and clinched the match by converting his fourth break point in a tense second set, finishing in just 96 minutes.

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Despite his dominant display, De Minaur acknowledged that the slow playing conditions in Rotterdam required some adjustment. “It felt slow out there, quite tough to get used to the conditions,” he said post-match. “The ball got massive… It’s a very rough surface. I’m pleased with my attitude today; I executed my game plan well. David is a formidable competitor, so I expected a tough match.”

This victory adds to De Minaur’s impressive record, bringing his total ATP 500 wins in Rotterdam to 10 and 30 since the beginning of 2023, trailing only Jannik Sinner (32) in that timeframe. Currently ranked World No. 8, De Minaur is off to a strong start in 2025, having reached his first Australian Open quarterfinal last month and improving his season record to 8-1.

A notable area of growth for De Minaur has been his serve power. “I’ve definitely increased my serve speed by about 5 to 10 km/h, which has been beneficial during crucial points,” he explained. “I was able to hit some big serves when it counted, and maintaining a high first-serve percentage is key.”

His confidence and work ethic remain unwavering. “The expectations I set for myself will always be higher than the external pressures. I have high hopes for myself and aim to keep pushing forward. It’s a long season ahead, but staying resilient is vital.”

De Minaur will next face Jakub Mensik in his quest for a second consecutive final in Rotterdam. Mensik, only 19 years old, produced an impressive 6-4, 6-4 win over Alexander Bublik, showcasing his exceptional serving skills by winning 88% (29/33) of his first-serve points and avenging his previous loss to Bublik.

Additionally, fourth seed Andrey Rublev kicked off his Rotterdam campaign with a solid victory, defeating Zhang Zhizhen 6-3, 6-4 in 82 minutes. The 2021 champion was relentless from the baseline, breaking Zhang six times while successfully saving the only break point against him.

Searching for consistency in 2025, Rublev recorded his first win of the season against a Top 50 opponent, a morale-boosting result as he prepares for his next match against either Jan-Lennard Struff or Fabian Marozsan.