London, Great Britain, 24 June 2023 | Leigh Rogers

Queen’s Club, Great Britain

Alex de Minaur has recorded his career-first top-10 win on grass to book his spot in an ATP 500 final at Queen’s Club.

The 24-year-old Australian scored a 6-3 7-6(2) victory today against world No.6 Holger Rune in the semifinals.

De Minaur did not drop serve in the one-hour and 40-minute encounter, saving all three break points he faced in an impressive performance.

“I play pretty decent on the grass and I’m having an amazing week,” De Minaur said after defeating the second-seeded Rune.

“Today, I reckon, was my best match so far. So happy days, we keep on going.”

https://twitter.com/atptour/status/1672591867307864064?s=20

It is De Minaur’s 11th career top-10 win – and his fourth recorded this season.

This propels De Minaur into his 12th career ATP singles final. He owns a 7-4 win-loss record in finals and has won his past four.

The world No.18 now has a chance to win his second career title on grass, having previously claimed an ATP 250 crown at Eastbourne in 2001.

Queen’s Club, known as the cinch Championships, is one of the most prestigious grass-court tournaments in the world. It was first staged in 1890.

De Minaur becomes the first Australian to reach a singles final at Queen’s Club since Lleyton Hewitt’s title-winning run in 2006.

https://twitter.com/QueensTennis/status/1672604318812307458?s=20

“It’s a pretty special tournament,” De Minaur acknowledged. “Let’s just hope I can do one better tomorrow. It would be pretty nice.

“I would love to be able to put my name on the trophy tomorrow.”

The seventh-seeded De Minaur is aiming to become the seventh Australian to win a men’s singles title at Queen’s Club in the Open era.

De Minaur will play world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz for the title.

They have met once before, with Alcaraz scoring a three-set victory in the Barcelona semifinals last year.

“He’s finding his footing on grass and playing some great tennis as well,” De Minaur noted of the top-seeded Alcaraz.

“It’s going to be an absolute battle. I’ll try to do a bit like I did today and play my game and try to dictate myself and not get pushed around, because that’s when I play my best tennis.”

The 20-year-old Spaniard is hoping to win his first grass-court title. Victory would also see Alcaraz return to world No.1.

Meanwhile, De Minaur’s ranking is set to rise to a career-high world No.14 if he wins the title.

Aussies in action – Queen’s Club

RESULTS
Men’s singles, semifinals
[7] Alex de Minaur (AUS) d [2] Holger Rune (DEN) 6-3 7-6(2)

COMING UP
Men’s singles, final
[7] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v [1] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)

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