Preview ABN AMRO Open Rotterdam Final: Carlos Alcaraz meets Alex de Minaur as top seed meets imperious Aussie

It is Sunday and the final of the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam is upon us as two showtime players face off in Carlos Alcaraz and Alex de Minaur in what on paper was the expected tie to come out of the draw after the withdrawal of Jannik Sinner. Our preview looks ahead to the blockbuster tie.

Both have faced differing routes to the final. Alcaraz has shown insane form at times this week and has also broken a hoodoo in the process. He had previously not reached the final at an indoor tournament and has faltered many times on the faster surfaces.

Alcaraz masters indoor hoodoo

In particular last year at Paris and the ATP Finals where he even had the same court built at the Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy to gain an edge. But while he tried to gain an edge nothing could realistically prepare him for the fact that he seemingly couldn't master the surface.

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Similar to not having grass as your favourite surface, it won't be cured merely by building a grass court. For Alcaraz, it has been a week to remember as a result. Alcaraz made a slow start to his debut in the event including against Hubert Hurkacz last round going 3-0 down but found a way to master the Pole having won the third set 6-3 after losing a second set tie-break.

But that third set wasn't massively needed by Alcaraz who perhaps threw it away more than anything else as he gave Hurkacz an unnecessary lifeline. One he didn't give to Pedro Martinez or Andrea Vavassori in previous rounds as he lost just three games in both ties.

Carlos Alcaraz aims to end indoor hoodoo.

Botic van de Zandschulp was more of a testing tie as he made his way through in three sets but the Dutchman is always a tricky customer as he showed Alcaraz at the US Open. So he also got over that hurdle too.

Also coming into the tournament, he had a huge delay getting into the country due to baggage delays and also markably wasn't very well coming into the tournament. As well as not having his usual coach Juan Carlos Ferrero there with him. Overall there was settings there to give him a set back but he rode through them.

Delightful De Minaur shows why he is must watch

Alex de Minaur always performs well in Rotterdam and has reached consecutive finals. But he has improved year on year and will make his top six debut next week. His top five debut likely looms too albeit Casper Ruud reaching the Dallas Open final means he has gained a head of steam to stop that for now.

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But De Minaur shows that when Jannik Sinner isn't getting in his way, he is perhaps the favourite for this title. He saw off Mattia Bellucci last round 6-1, 6-2 who has been the story of the week seeing off Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas from qualifying to the semi-finals.

Daniel Altmaier was also eased past as was rising upstart Jakub Mensik who after De Minaur saw off David Goffin was seen as a potential tricky tie for him but he made light work of the Czech star.

Alex de Minaur has been superb this week.

When it is not Sinner standing in his way who he seems to not be able to beat no matter where it is, De Minaur is one of the best aside from the Italian. Very much a good player but not one to over excel in the years gone by, he has emerged over the past 18 months into a real force.

Reaching an Australian Open Quarter-Final for the first time earlier in the season and he will now usurp Novak Djokovic into sixth spot, it is very feasible that aside from if Casper Ruud has a lights out clay court season again that De Minaur will reach the top five by Roland Garros.

Making his ATP Finals debut in 2024 showed that he has the consistency to belong with the tennis elite and as the likes of Rublev, Tsitsipas among others start to go backwards, it is players like De Minaur who will take those spots. Perhaps not as contenders for Grand Slams especially if his run against Sinner continues but as the player who could take advantage if they fall.

He will want to mould more into the former than the latter and a win against Alcaraz can show it. De Minaur also of course has Spanish heritage and has citizenship in the country as well as speaking the language. So it also comes with a Spanish duel type feel against Alcaraz too.

Head to Head

Their Head to Head also paints a poor picture for De Minaur. Albeit not Sinner style and very much one that can turn around given their minimal meetings.

Alcaraz has won twice against De Minaur. Neither have come on hard and in particular the indoor hard that Alcaraz has struggled on in the past.

He won in the 2023 Queen's final. Of course like Spain, the UK is a second home to De Minaur with his fiance Katie Boulter hailing from and living in the UK. But also he held bragging rights the year before in the Barcelona semi-final. Both were landmark runs for Alcaraz.

This also could be a landmark run as he could overcome his indoor hard problem. But given the Head to Head is very much non existent in regards to a matchup like this, it is certainly 50/50.

But perhaps despite a 2-0 deficit, De Minaur can be favoured. He has shown in the past that he is adept at this event and has only really ran into his nemesis Sinner when trying to win the title.

Alcaraz would certainly love to add this title to his resume to really kickstart his 2025 season after letting the Australian Open slip against Novak Djokovic which was eventually won by Jannik Sinner. But it depends which version of either play turns up.

A languid version of Alcaraz who gives De MInaur a lead could spell curtains, while a De Minaur not at full capabilities also hands Alcaraz the keys to the kingdom. So overall it is a pretty tasty tie between the pair as no-one is quite sure what can come of it. It will begin around 15:30 CET on Sunday afternoon with the action then heading for both to Doha and Dubai in the coming weeks.

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