Alex de Minaur, the top seed at a tournament for the first time in his career, is living up to his billing as he moves into the ‘s-Hertogenbosch semifinals.
‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands , 15 June 2024 | Vivienne Christie
‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
Alex de Minaur is proving a leader in more ways than one this season.
While he leads a crop of eight Australian men inside the world’s top 100, De Minaur is also confidently leading the field as the No.1 seed at the Libema Open.
With a 7-5 6-2 win over Milos Raonic, the 2016 men’s singles finalist, the Australian moved into his third ATP-level semifinal this year.
It is a 24th ATP-level semifinal in total for De Minaur, and his fifth at a grass-court tournament.
Arriving in the Dutch city on the back of his career-best quarterfinal run at Roland Garros, De Minaur has transitioned superbly from clay courts to grass.
His win over Raonic, achieved in one hour and 26 minutes, followed a straight-sets win over Belgium’s Zizou Bergs.
Victory over big-serving Canadian Raonic was his second of the 2024 season, with De Minaur also advancing when an injured Raonic was forced to withdraw from their second-round match at the Australian Open.
Final Four Calling De Minaur! 👏@alexdeminaur takes out Raonic 7-5 6-2 to reach the semi-finals#LibemaOpen #LO2024 pic.twitter.com/I9J6DDExM7
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 14, 2024
In their grass-court encounter, De Minaur edged ahead in a 56-minute first set and took control in the second to secure victory on his first match point.
De Minaur withstood eight aces from Raonic in a solid all-round performance, and converted four of his seven break point opportuiities.
Aiming to improve on a grass-court record that includes a runner-up performance at Queen’s last year and the 2021 title in Eastbourne, De Minaur will face No.3 seed Ugo Humbert or Dutch qualifier Gijs Brouwer in the semifinals.
It was a tougher day for fellow Australian Aleksandar Vukic in ‘s-Hertogenbosch who took the first set from local star Tallon Griekspoor before falling in three tight sets.
Aussies in action – ‘s-Hertogenbosch
RESULTS
Men’s singles, quarterfinals
[1] Alex de Minaur (AUS) d Milos Raonic (CAN) 7-5 6-2
[6] Tallon Griekspoor (NED) d Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) 4-6 6-3 7-6(4)
Men’s doubles, semifinals
[2] Nathaniel Lammons (USA)/Jackson Withrow (USA) d John-Patrick Smith (AUS)/Andreas Mies (GER) your 6-3 3-6 [10-7]
COMING UP
Men’s singles…
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