Alex de Minaur scripts UTS history, beats Casper Ruud to become first triple champion
NewsMonday, 08 December 2025 at 10:20
Updated at Monday, 08 December 2025 at 10:25
Aussie Alex de Minaur scripted history at the Ultimate Tennis
Showdown (UTS) on Sunday. He defeated Casper Ruud at the London Grand Final to become
the first triple champion in UTS.
‘The Demon’ De Minaur downed ‘The Ice Man’ Ruud in a
thrilling four-quarter final inside Copper Box Arena to defend his UTS Grand
Final title.
He suffered an early setback as Ruud took the opening quarter
with a margin of four points. But he didn’t look back afterwards and never
trailed in the match again, winning 11-15, 15-10, 15-11, 16-7.
This is De Minaur’s third victory on the UTS tour. He won his
first title in Antwerp back in 2020.
The World No. 7 suffered only one defeat in his London campaign.
He started with a 3-1 (13-12, 16-8, 11-12, 14-12) victory over Frenchman Adrian
Mannarino bust lost 1-3 (13-12, 8-13, 16-12, 13-12) to Andrey Rublev in his
second match. He then defeated Tomas Machac 3-1 (10-15, 16-11, 16-13, 16-12) to
secure a place in the semifinals, where he met Ugo Humbert and won 3-0 (15-13,
18-13, 18-9).
After lifting the ‘lightning bolt’ trophy for second straight
year, the Australian acknowledged the host city London, where he has moved in
with his fiancee Katie Boulter.
“It’s amazing to win here again,” de Minaur told the media after the presentation ceremony. “London is a special place for me and it's my home now, so it’s always great to play at this event and even better to win again.
“I’ve had some tough matches here this week and playing Casper in the final was always going to be difficult. It is amazing to come through. There is no rest for me now. I might take off, but then it’s back on court practicing for the new season.”- Alex de Minaur
Alex de Minaur’s next stop is Sydney, Australia, where he will join
his countrymates Lleyton Hewitt, Jason Kubler, Maya Joint and others for the
2026 United Cup.
He began the season gone by at the same event, where
Australia was drawn with Great Britain and Argentina in Group F. It lost to
Argentina in its opening tie but overcame Great Britain in the second. However,
that wasn’t enough to qualify for the knockouts.
De Minaur finished the season with a 56-24 record. He won the
Citi Open for his solitary trophy for the year. He concluded his season at the
ATP Finals in Turin, where he lost to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinals.
The trailblazing Aussie will hope to begin the new season by taking his national team across the finish line at the United Cup. His side is in Group D with Czechia and
Norway for the upcoming event.
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