Alex de Minaur defies 33 errors to beat Moutet in Washington SFs

Washington

De Minaur defies 33 errors to beat Moutet in Washington SF

Australian also reached Washington final in 2018

2025 Katelyn Mulcahy/Wick Photography for Mubadala Citi DC Open Alex de Minaur is into his second final of 2025. By ATP Staff

Alex de Minaur overcame a scrappy, error-prone performance to halt the run of French lucky loser Corentin Moutet 6-4, 6-3 and advance to the final of the Mubadala Citi DC Open Saturday night.

The Australian will need to sharpen his game ahead of Sunday’s final against Ben Shelton or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after spraying 33 unforced errors, including 21 in the opening set and 21 for the match on his backhand.

"It wasn't pretty tennis, but I knew it was going to be a tricky match without a lot of rhythm," De Minuar said. "That's what he's able to do to opponents. I had the mentality of doing whatever it took to get into the title match tomorrow."

After winning 14 consecutive points to start the second set, De Minaur seemed to be coasting to victory but double faulted to drop serve at 4-1 and later failed to serve out the match at 5-2 in a game that started with a double fault.

In a more promising sign, De Minaur won 17 of 22 points at net, regularly approaching Moutet's weaker backhand wing with impunity.

De Minaur, who also reached the Washington, D.C. final in 2018 (l. to Zverev), improved to a Tour-leading 21 hard-court wins on the season. He also has the most wins at the ATP 500 level (41) since the start of the 2023 season.

By reaching the final, De Minaur passed Andrey Rublev at No. 10 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

Moutet, who came into the tournament as a lucky loser after losing in qualifying, has this week climbed 13 spots to No. 46 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, cracking the Top 50 for the first time in his career.

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