Alex De Minaur Shines at Hamburg Open with Dominant Quarter-Final Victory
De Minaur's Impressive Performance
File image of Australian tennis player Alex De Minaur(Photo: @CabistanyLab/X)
Hamburg, May 22: Alex De Minaur showcased a remarkable return to form at the Hamburg Open, where the third-seeded Australian overwhelmed Luciano Darderi in the quarter-finals, conceding only three games.
In a thrilling match on the bustling Center Court, De Minaur delivered a stellar performance, securing a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Darderi.
Entering the tournament after a three-match losing streak, De Minaur's victory against World No. 16 Darderi marked his first semi-final appearance at this clay-court event in northern Germany.
He has become the first Australian to reach the Hamburg semi-finals since Lleyton Hewitt, a former World No. 1, did so in 2007. Following this win, De Minaur has climbed two spots to No. 7 in the ATP Live Rankings, according to ATP statistics.
Darderi struggled to respond to De Minaur's commanding play, particularly in the opening set, where he faltered in crucial deuce games.
The Italian only managed to win his first game during his initial service game of the second set, after a lengthy 52 minutes. Although Darderi attempted to engage De Minaur in longer rallies, he was unable to convert a break point at 1-3. A late surge from Darderi, supported by an enthusiastic crowd at Rothenbaum, ultimately fell short.
“The last 20 or 30 minutes of this match, the conditions couldn’t have been any slower and any heavier,” remarked De Minaur, who clinched one of the standout match points of the 2026 season to secure his victory.
De Minaur, aiming for his first ATP Tour final on clay, is set to face Tommy Paul next.
The sixth-seeded Paul triumphed over local favorite Daniel Altmaier with a score of 6-2, 7-5, making him the first American to reach the Hamburg semi-finals since Pete Sampras in 1995.
Additionally, fellow American Aleksandar Kovacevic also advanced to the semi-finals, winning a challenging match against Camilo Ugo Carabelli with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-7(10), 6-2.
This marks the first time since 1995, when 14-time Grand Slam champion Sampras competed, that two Americans have reached the semi-finals of the Hamburg Open.
The last occurrence of two Americans in the top four was in 1981, featuring Jimmy Connors and Harold Solomon.