Australia’s Alex de Minaur will climb to No.6 in the ATP rankings this week despite a loss to Carlos Alcaraz.
The Aussie 26-year-old will leapfrog Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev to reach his equal career-high ranking after playing the Rotterdam final for a second consecutive year.
De Minaur was also No.6 in the world briefly after Wimbledon last year.
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Alcaraz secured his first indoor title by beating de Minaur in the final of the Rotterdam Open on Monday.
The top-seeded Alcaraz won 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to become the first Spanish champion in the tournament’s 52-year history.
It was a 17th title for the 21-year-old Alcaraz but his first indoor one.
“This week has been a really good week,” Alcaraz said.
“Putting in really good work. Coming here (not) feeling 100 per cent well with the cold but after every day I’m feeling better and better.
“It was the first time that I (was) playing here and you (fans) made it like I’ve been playing this tournament for a long time.”
De Minaur lost to Jannik Sinner in last year’s Rotterdam final.
“We’re pushing for bigger and better things,” the Australian said.
“It’s been two years now with this runner-up trophy. I’m hoping I’ll get my hand on the winners’ one day.
“It’s a week to be very proud of, considering the way I’ve been feeling all week off the court.
“I’ve definitely been struggling, so I’m happy with the effort, the level, [and] I thought I definitely had some chances today, and maybe could have done a little bit more in certain moments, but he played well in those exact moments and deserved to win.”
– with Simon Brunsdon