Sports
Australian Tennis Star Alex de Minaur Advances to Acapulco Final Following Opponent’s Retirement
Australian tennis sensation Alex de Minaur has secured a spot in the final round of the ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco for the second consecutive year. His advancement came in a semifinal showdown against British talent Jack Draper, where Draper unfortunately retired in the third set due to illness.
De Minaur, the world No.9 player, expressed well-wishes for his opponent’s swift recovery, acknowledging Draper’s exceptional skills on the court. He faced the challenging situation with grace, stating the difficulty of maintaining focus when his counterpart was visibly struggling physically.
The Australian’s remarkable form in Acapulco includes a nine-match winning streak, building upon his previous victory in the tournament. In a stellar quarterfinal performance against Stefanos Tsitsipas and a runner-up finish in Rotterdam, de Minaur is showing consistency and strength.
Notably, De Minaur’s career has seen remarkable victories against high-profile players including Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev, and Grigor Dimitrov. His ability to maintain a strong semifinal record, winning all six since 2023, underscores his rising star in the tennis world.
The Acapulco final will see De Minaur face either Holger Rune or Casper Ruud, promising an exciting conclusion to the tournament. De Minaur’s back-to-back finals presence in Acapulco reflects a feat not achieved since David Ferrer‘s consecutive final appearances in 2012 and 2013.
As De Minaur prepares for the final showdown in Acapulco, he acknowledges areas for improvement in his game while also celebrating his progress during the competition. With the pressure of defending his 2023 title and maintaining his top-10 ranking, the Australian remains focused on giving his best performance.