TURIN, Italy – Forty-eight hours ago, Alex de Minaur felt as though he had hit one of the lowest points of his career. After squandering what appeared to be a sure victory against Lorenzo Musetti, the Australian was consumed with frustration, disappointment, and a sense that his campaign at the ATP Finals was slipping away. Yet by Thursday, after a rejuvenating win over Taylor Fritz, his fortunes had flipped entirely. With renewed confidence and a surge of momentum, De Minaur not only revived his spirits but also clinched an unexpected spot in the semifinals.
On Tuesday, De Minaur had stood on the brink of triumph, holding a commanding 5–3 advantage in the deciding set against Musetti. But in front of a roaring Italian crowd, Musetti produced an inspired comeback, capturing four straight games and leaving De Minaur reeling. Having already fallen to Carlos Alcaraz earlier in the tournament, the Australian appeared to be drifting toward an early exit, weighed down by disappointment and his own sense of missed opportunity.
By contrast, Thursday’s performance presented a completely transformed athlete. In his 7–6(3), 6–3 victory over last year’s runner-up Fritz, De Minaur played with extraordinary intensity and an infectious level of enthusiasm. From the outset, he hustled relentlessly, defended with extraordinary precision, and attacked with a clarity of purpose that had been missing two days earlier. The result not only earned him a crucial win but also restored his emotional connection to the sport.
Reflecting on the brutal turnaround, De Minaur did not shy away from describing just how bleak his mindset had been after losing to Musetti. “Two days ago was one of the toughest days I’ve ever experienced in my career,” he admitted. “I was in a very dark place. Honestly, in that moment, I hated tennis. And now, only a couple of days later, I feel incredible. It’s crazy how quickly things can change.”
Determined not to dwell on the Musetti defeat, he approached the Fritz match with a clear and uncompromising plan. “More than anything, regardless of the outcome today, I’d already made peace with myself,” he explained. “That was huge for me. I knew exactly how I wanted to play, and I promised myself I would commit to it from first point to last. If the result went against me, I was prepared for that.”
De Minaur began the opening set strongly, breaking Fritz for a 3–1 lead. Although the American found a second wind and pushed the set into a tiebreak, De Minaur dominated the breaker, quickly moving ahead 4–1 with two early mini-breaks. His momentum carried into the second set, where he broke Fritz to love and surged ahead 3–0.
This time, the ghosts of his previous collapse did not return—though there was a momentary scare. Serving for the match at 5–3, De Minaur dropped the first two points and briefly felt echoes of that sinking sensation he experienced against Musetti. Instead of crumbling, however, he steadied himself, unleashed a blistering ace to reach 15–30, and closed out the match with authority.
After securing match point, he could only laugh. “I just looked at my team and started laughing,” he said. “It felt like the universe was playing tricks on me. But I produced some of my best tennis right when I needed it. Even at the toughest moments, when I could’ve retreated into old habits and played not to lose, I chose to play to win.”
With Alcaraz later defeating Musetti, De Minaur officially qualified for the semifinals, where he will face local star Jannik Sinner—a scenario he hadn’t even realized was possible until officials informed him on court. “I had no idea,” he said. “I still don’t quite believe it. I’m proud of what I did today. Whatever happens next, happens.”
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