De Miñaur surrenders to Wawrinka: "He was able to take the best versions of the Big 3 off the court"

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Alex de Miñaur advances steadily in an ATP Rotterdam 2026 where he is the top favorite for the title. Indoor hard court, low ball bounce but rough, slow surface: these conditions should fit like a glove for a player who came very close to the crown last season, with only a Carlos Alcaraz in top form denying him the opportunity to triumph.

With Carlos absent now and himself being the top seed, a status he has been confirming in recent days. He started with a comfortable victory over Arthur Fils and today reaffirmed his great form by defeating Stan Wawrinka, eclipsing the revival that the Lausanne native has enjoyed in his final season on the circuit. A 6-4 and 6-2 scoreline that highlights the Australian's strong display in the Dutch lands, although today, despite the victory, he chose to let another player, whom he grew up watching, take the spotlight.

Why? As he confessed in a mixed zone interview by our friend and reporter Diego Jiménez, who is present at the Dutch tournament, the Australian has fond memories of the best version of the player he defeated today: with this being his last appearance in Rotterdam, what better tribute than to dedicate some heartfelt words and explain why the Swiss player's figure is one of the most important in recent decades.

"The level he has been able to reach throughout his career can only be described as incredible. He won Grand Slams at the peak of the Big Three and Big Four, and it's not like those Slams were handed to him on a silver platter, he took the best players out of the court to beat them. I remember watching those matches and being amazed at the sheer power his shots could achieve; it was insane. He managed to blossom at a time when not many people thought he would. In short, he has been a magnificent player and person, so it has been more special than ever to face him here," noted the Australian with a smile on his face, also enjoying, like all of us, the last drops of talent from Stan on the circuit.

How de Miñaur criticized HEAD balls, causing a stir throughout the tournament

Like several players, such as Daniil Medvedev or Arthur Fils, Alex was unable to handle the balls in the tournament, pointing out that they are "very tricky" and making it challenging to adapt to the event's conditions, even going as far as acknowledging that his tennis will not be perfect. However, he emphasized feeling that he is playing at a good level, with strong service percentages, and highlighted unforced errors as the main area for improvement in the upcoming matches.

Lastly, the Australian was asked about recent statements from Stefanos Tsitsipas, pointing out how mentally challenging and lonely the circuit can be. A contemporary of the Greek, de Miñaur surprised himself by recalling his extensive professional journey and provided the key to finding balance throughout your career.

"We've all been on the circuit for a long time; I've been around for like ten or eleven years, it's incredible. Time flies by quickly, and you start to understand important things, the stress, everything this sport entails. You must navigate the ups and downs, be there when your mind is not at its best. The most important thing is to have people around you who can lift you up in tough times, help you through the lows, and make sure you don't rush things in the highs. That's the most crucial thing in this sport, not taking anything for granted or thinking it's all done: keep improving always, be aware that those below you are only getting better to reach you, and that you must keep improving to reach those ahead." His next opponent in the quarterfinals will be Botic van de Zandschulp.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, De Miñaur se rinde a Wawrinka: "Fue capaz de sacar de la pista a las mejores versiones del Big 3"