Australian Open: Alex de Minaur impresses in his first match

The house favourite Alex de Minaur is safely via to the second spherical in Melbourne. The eighth seed met Botic van de Zandschulp within the first spherical of the Australian Open on Rod Laver Area and scored a 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 win.

De Minaur sealed the deal in two hours and 22 minutes, warding off two set factors within the second set and sealing the take care of a late break within the third. Alex fired 13 aces and dominated together with his first serve. He dropped serve as soon as and saved the strain on the opposite facet.

Van de Zandschulp fought properly in units two and three, lacking an opportunity to increase the battle. The Dutchman sprayed 50 unforced errors and performed in opposition to ten break factors, struggling 5 breaks and ending his run within the opening spherical.

The Aussie No. 1 will get it completed! 🇦🇺

Alex de Minaur earns a straight-set win in opposition to Botic van de Zandschulp in his dwelling Grand Slam opener! 🙌#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/1teWyjZTVK

— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 14, 2025

Alex constructed the benefit within the shortest and mid-range exchanges. He took cost in probably the most prolonged ones, outplaying his rival from the baseline and transferring excessive with out spending an excessive amount of time on the courtroom. 

The house favourite offered 4 positive holds within the opening set and cracked the opponent’s preliminary shot. Botic sprayed a forehand error within the second sport of the match, shedding serve and experiencing an early setback. 

Alex de Minaur, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot

 

De Minaur gained a lift and delivered a break at love in sport 4 after a deep return and a forehand assault. The eighth seed served for the opener at 5-1 and landed a service winner, holding at love and bringing the opener dwelling in 26 minutes. 

The Dutchman struggled behind the preliminary shot within the third sport of the second set. He sprayed a forehand error and fell a set and a break down. Alex performed a free service sport at 3-2, sending a forehand lengthy and experiencing a break. 

Botic saved a break level within the ninth sport and moved 5-4 up. He stepped in on the return within the subsequent one and generated two set factors. The house favourite saved the primary with a positive forehand assault and the second with a service winner earlier than holding for 5-5.

Botic van de Zandschulp, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Van de Zandschulp wasted a sport level in sport 11 and sprayed a backhand error to endure a break and fall 6-5 behind. Alex served for the opener in sport 12 and landed an ace on a set level, forging a 6-1, 7-5 lead in an hour and a half. 

They each missed a break level early within the third set and once more within the center video games. De Minaur secured a positive maintain in sport eight and locked the end result at 4-4. The Aussie made a push on the return within the subsequent one. Botic misplaced the bottom and suffered a break at love after a double fault!

Thus, de Minaur produced a vital break and moved excessive with an ace at 5-4, celebrating a win on Rod Laver Area.