De Minaur equals Federer's record, Van de Zandschulp sinks Tsitsipas in Rotterdam

  • Posted: Feb 12, 2026

Can Alex de Minaur finally get his hands on the trophy at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam?

The top-seeded Australian cruised past 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday at the indoor hard-court event, advancing to the quarter-finals for the fifth year in a row to equal three-time champion Roger Federer’s record for consecutive appearances at that stage.

A finalist in the past two editions of the ATP 500, De Minaur has earned more wins (15) than anyone in this year’s field. In a dominant display against Swiss wild card Wawrinka, the No. 8 player in the PIF ATP Rankings forced the 40-year-old into errors with his consistent ballstriking, improving to 2-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“I think over the years it’s changed,” said De Minaur, when asked why Rotterdam seems to bring out his best. ”Every year I’ve come here it has been a bit different in terms of the playing conditions. A little bit slower, and the balls are a little bit different, so I think I’m just doing a good job at adapting. I don’t think there are too many players out here who are feeling really comfortable, so it’s all about just finding a way and that is where I thrive.”

De Minaur has now recorded 50 victories at ATP 500 events since the start of 2023, lifting trophies at that level in Acapulco (2023, 2024) and Washington (2025), according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Aiming to break his title duck in Rotterdam, he will next play Botic van de Zandschulp.

The Dutchman Van de Zandschulp defeated the 2022 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6(4) to advance to the quarter-finals in Rotterdam for the first time. He is the fourth active Dutchman to reach the last eight at the ATP 500.

Second seed and World No. 6 Felix Auger-Aliassime joined his fellow Top 10 star De Minaur in the last eight in Rotterdam by pulling through a potentially tricky second round against Hamad Medjedovic. Auger-Aliassime, who lifted an indoor ATP 250 trophy in Montpellier on Sunday, prevailed 6-4, 6-4 to extend his winning streak to six matches.

Now 17-1 against players from outside the Top 50 since last August, the 2022 Rotterdam titlist Auger-Aliassime will next play home favourite Tallon Griekspoor. The two players are split at 1-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, and Friday’s quarter-final clash will be their first meeting indoors.

Earlier, Ugo Humbert and Jaume Munar also both advanced to the quarter-finals. Frenchman Humbert backed up his win against Daniil Medvedev with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph against Guy Den Ouden, while Munar upset fifth seed Karen Khachanov 7-6(8), 3-6, 6-3.

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