'Third time lucky': De Minaur downs Auger-Aliassime to finally win Rotterdam Open

[p]The top-seed had lost the previous two finals to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Jannik Sinner[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Carlos Alcaraz[/a], but he seized on the absence of the world's top two [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/auger-aliassime-f-CzXh4LAb/de-minaur-a-EZgZ9Xfh/?mid=8haJiOyq"]to make it third time lucky[/a].[/p][p][b]"It feels great to finally be able to lift the title,"[/b] said the world number eight.[/p][p][b]"Every day I got better, and I'm super pleased with the performance today," [/b]he added.[/p][p]Canada's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/auger-aliassime-felix/CzXh4LAb/"]Auger-Aliassime[/a] threw everything at the 26-year-old, but the Australian soaked up the pressure and retrieved brilliantly to finally take the crown in Rotterdam.[/p][embed guid="956d0730-ab16-4c35-b711-c8f15e6363da" url="https://x.com/atptour/status/2023068403620077629" social-type="twitter" /][p]The early games went with serve, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-minaur-alex/EZgZ9Xfh/"]De Minaur[/a] seized the initiative in the 6th game, breaking the Canadian's serve with some trademark retrieving and a spectacular backhand winner up the line.[/p][p]The top seed sealed the first set 6-3 with a powerful service, his consistency proving too much for Auger-Aliassime, who was left to rue 14 unforced errors, mainly on the forehand wing.[/p][p]The pattern repeated in the second set, on serve until de Minaur clinched a break to love in the fifth game after two disastrous Auger-Aliassime double faults.[/p][p]After this setback, the Canadian took a medical time-out for a reason that was not immediately clear, returning with no obvious movement issues.[/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="d125e9e3-e1e0-4e6f-9d02-7a609abeb56f" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="e632e8bd-187a-4080-a754-2ca86fbe2776" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]However, de Minaur again broke his serve to love, Auger-Aliassime dumping a forehand into the net to put the Australian on the brink.[/p][p]De Minaur made no mistake, taking the title with his first ace of the match and raising his arms in triumph and relief.[/p][p][b]"Third time lucky. We finally managed to get the title,"[/b] said the Australian as he collected the trophy.[/p][p][b]"I'm glad I was finally able to get the title. It's been one of my favourite spots on the calendar. I love coming back here in Rotterdam. I've played some of my best tennis here, and I finally get the reward."[/b][/p][p]Auger-Aliassime paid tribute to his opponent, saying, "he had no holes in his games and I couldn't find a way."[/p][p][b]"Sometimes I have to accept the loss and the fact that my opponent was better, and today he definitely was,"[/b] added the Canadian.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/tennis/atp-singles/rotterdam/"]Catch up on the results from Rotterdam here.[/a][/b][/p]