De Minaur storms into Monte-Carlo semi-final with statement win
Alex de Minaur delivered a statement performance against Grigor Dimitrov to reach the Monte-Carlo Masters semi-finals on Friday.
The Australian brushed aside Dimitrov by serving up a double bagel, winning 6-0 6-0 in just 44 minutes.
De Minaur gave Dimitrov no way in, taking complete advantage of the Bulgarian's lack of intensity with relentless hitting from the baseline, as he committed just six unforced errors in the first set.
He followed the same pattern in the second, landing an inch-perfect lob in the first game to break serve, and he did not look back.
"With the troubles I had on this surface at the start of my career, I didn't quite understand it and how to play well on it," De Minaur said of his improvements on clay.
"As the years have gone by, I have grown to understand the things I can do well to become a tough opponent on this surface. I'm very happy that I am playing better and better every year."
It is just the third time De Minaur has reached a clay-court semi-final, while he is looking for a maiden triumph on the surface, with Lorenzo Musetti coming up in the final four.
All business from the @alexdeminaur powers past Dimitrov in straight sets to reach his second Masters 1000 semi-final! @ROLEXMCMASTERS | #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/dx9obKBGRa
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 11, 2025
The Italian came from behind to defeat three-time Monte-Carlo champion Stefanos Tsitsipas 1-6 6-3 6-4 to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final.
Backed by a brave serving performance, Musetti saved 14 of the 17 break points he faced as he stormed through to the next round.
In doing so, he also became the first player born in 2002 to reach the semi-finals of an ATP Masters 1000 event.
Data Debrief: Total dominance
De Minaur is the first player since the format's introduction in 1990 to win an ATP Masters 1000 match from the quarter-finals onwards with a 6-0 6-0 scoreline.
It is also the first double bagel served up at the quarter-final stage or later on the ATP Tour since 2013, when Roger Federer blanked Mischa Zverev in the last eight at the Halle Open.
The victory means he is the first Australian to reach the semi-finals at the Monte Carlo Masters since John Alexander in 1979.