Alcaraz to face De Minaur in Rotterdam Open final
Carlos Alcaraz will face Alex de Minaur in the Rotterdam Open final on Sunday after defeating Hubert Hurkacz in the semi-finals.
The 21-year-old top seed won 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 against Poland's Hurkacz at the ATP 500 indoor hard-court event.
World number eight De Minaur, 25, booked his place in the final with a straight-set semi-final victory over Mattia Bellucci.
The Australian third seed cruised past his Italian opponent 6-1 6-2.
Four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz made a slow start to his debut at the event and quickly found himself 3-0 down, before fighting back to take the first set.
"I think he had chances to make it 6-0 so I just tried to fight for every ball, every point," said the world number three.
With the second set going to a tie-break, both players squandered chances to seize the advantage. It was a double fault from Alcaraz at 5-4 up that handed Hurkacz the opportunity to draw level and the 27-year-old took the set after the Spaniard netted a simple backhand.
Alcaraz found his stride in the third set, however, and he reached the final with a forehand winner after a thrilling contest.
"I just tried to stay in there, keep fighting all the time and it paid off," added Alcaraz.
De Minaur's last-four tie was a stroll in contrast.
Bellucci had knocked out Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas on his way to the semi-finals but De Minaur was too strong for the 23-year-old qualifier.
De Minaur, who won all of his matches in Rotterdam in straight sets, was runner-up to world number one Jannik Sinner in the final last year.
"The Dutch crowd always treats me very well, and I love coming back here, so hopefully I can get a title this time," he said.
