Alex de Minaur and Tommy Paul are scheduled to face off in the Hamburg Open semi-finals on Friday.
Both players have shown good form leading up to the French Open. De Minaur secured a dominant victory over Luciano Darderi in the previous round. Paul defeated home favourite Daniel Altmaier to reach the final four.
De Minaur’s Head-to-Head Advantage
The upcoming match marks the seventh encounter between de Minaur and Paul. De Minaur has the advantage with five wins out of their previous six matches. However, Paul secured a straight-sets victory in their last meeting at the Italian Open last year.
Paul’s Clay Court Success in 2026
Paul has had a solid 2026 season, with a 23-9 win-loss record. He also claimed his first clay title at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships last month.
Seeded sixth in Hamburg, Paul started with a dominant win over Ethan Quinn. He then overcame clay-court specialist Tomás Martín Etcheverry in a tight match featuring three tie-breaks.
In the quarter-finals, Paul defeated Altmaier 6-2, 7-5, improving his clay record this year to 8-2.
De Minaur Seeks Form Ahead of French Open
The clay-court swing has been challenging for de Minaur, with a 3-4 run before Hamburg. He seems to be regaining his form before the French Open.
The third seed needed three sets to beat Francisco Cerúndolo and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. He then secured his place in the semi-finals with a win over Darderi.
Prediction: Paul’s Clay Court Edge
Paul’s superior clay-court record and title win on the surface this year could give him an edge. Even with his historical struggles against de Minaur, his confidence on clay may be a deciding factor.
De Minaur experienced a slump after a strong start to the season. However, his form appears to be improving before the French Open. His dominant win over Darderi will likely boost his confidence, despite clay not being his preferred surface.
The match could be closely contested. Although both players are in form, Paul’s clay-court record and defensive skills might give him the advantage.