Alex de Minaur has returned to the Washington Open final six years after his first in 2018.
De Minaur underwent some struggles in recent months, but appears to have found his form again for the North American hard court swing.
The Australian has not reached a championship match since February, but after De Minaur beat Corentin Moutet he is into his 19th ATP final.
This is the second time that De Minaur has been in the Washington Open final, but he thinks he is a very different player from 2018.
Alex de Minaur explains what has changed since he last reached the Washington Open final
De Minaur reached his first final at ATP 500 level at the Washington Open in 2018, when he was just 19 years old.
At the time, De Minaur was the world number 72, and when comparing the player that he was then to today claimed that it is ‘night and day’.
“Yeah, I think realistically it’s night and day,” De Minaur said in his post-match press conference. “2018 to the version of me now, back then that was my first final of a big event.
“I was 19. I was thin as a stick (smiling). Didn’t have much on me. And I feel like now I’m a more experienced, more established player.
“Yeah, I’m excited to be back in another final. It’s taken me a while. It hasn’t really come for a while, but I’ve just felt in a great head space from the get-go here. I think the courts have suited my game style.
“Yeah, I have played some good matches, some difficult matches. I have given myself a chance at the title. So looking forward to that.”
What happened to Alex de Minaur in the 2018 Washington Open final?
De Minaur lost that final in straight sets to Alexander Zverev, 6-2 6-4, who was the defending champion.
Despite the disappointment of losing the final, De Minaur was hoping to use his run to the Washington Open final to help him continue his rise up the rankings.
“I came out and didn’t start as well as I wanted to. I wanted to hold serve and put some pressure on his service games,” De Minaur said at the time.
“I felt like I was on the back foot a lot. But that’s tennis. I’m very happy with the week I’ve had and going to try and build on this.”
De Minaur would break into the top 50 for the first time after this final, and has gone from strength to strength since then.
He has now won nine ATP titles and was ranked as high as world number six last year.
De Minaur will look to win his 10th ATP title in the Washington Open final when he plays Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who beat Ben Shelton in his semifinal.
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