De Minaur sets up crucial semi-final with Zverev
Alex de Minaur's hopes of making the year-end ATP Finals remain on track after he beat Matteo Berrettini 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 in the Vienna Open quarte-finals, setting up a huge semi-final clash with world No.1 Alexander Zverev.
De Minaur notched a milestone 350th win inside Wiener Stadthalle in beating Berrettini, making him only the ninth Australian man in the Open Era to achieve the feat.
"I fought him off, especially in the early stages of my serve and throughout the match to not get broken," De Minaur said after the win.
"There were tough moments, but I managed to navigate my way through them, and I am stoked to get through that one."
De Minaur saved all six break points he faced against the Italian and will play in his third semi-final in Vienna in as many years.
Currently sitting 10th in the ATP Rankings, the Australian is now just 129 points behind ninth-placed Rafael Jodar, who is effectively in the final qualification spot for the ATP Finals with Jannik Sinner not participating owing to injury.
De Minaur could move level with eighth-placed Frances Tiafoe if he wins in Vienna, but Zverev won't make that easy. The German leads 9-4 in the pair's head-to-head.
However De Minaur has only lost once to the German on indoor hard courts, and won the two most recent encounters on the surface at the Laver Cup in both 2025 and 2026.
"That's the aim. That's the type of matches that you want to be playing against the best in the world," De Minaur said of Zverev.
"Right now he is the best in the world. I am excited for that one.
"Hopefully, I can put on a battle tomorrow."
