Carlos Alcaraz will face Alex de Minaur in the Rotterdam Open final on Sunday after defeating Hubert Hurkacz in the semi-finals.

The 21-year-old top seed won 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 against Poland’s Hurkacz at the ATP 500 indoor hard-court event.

World number eight De Minaur, 25, booked his place in the final with a straight-set semi-final victory over Mattia Bellucci.

The Australian third seed cruised past his Italian opponent 6-1 6-2.

Four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz made a slow start to his debut at the event and quickly found himself 3-0 down, before fighting back to take the first set.

“I think he had chances to make it 6-0 so I just tried to fight for every ball, every point,” said the world number three.

With the second set going to a tie-break, both players squandered chances to seize the advantage. It was a double fault from Alcaraz at 5-4 up that handed Hurkacz the opportunity to draw level and the 27-year-old took the set after the Spaniard netted a simple backhand.

Alcaraz found his stride in the third set, however, and he reached the final with a forehand winner after a thrilling contest.

“I just tried to stay in there, keep fighting all the time and it paid off,” added Alcaraz.

De Minaur’s last-four tie was a stroll in contrast.

Bellucci had knocked out Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas on his way to the semi-finals but De Minaur was too strong for the 23-year-old qualifier.

De Minaur, who won all of his matches in Rotterdam in straight sets, was runner-up to world number one Jannik Sinner in the final last year.

“The Dutch crowd always treats me very well, and I love coming back here, so hopefully I can get a title this time,” he said.

Elsewhere, Norway’s second seed Casper Ruud will face Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in the Dallas Open final on Sunday.

World number five Ruud beat Spain’s Jaume Munar 6-2 2-6 7-6 (7-4) in the semi-finals, while Shapovalov defeated American third seed Tommy Paul 7-5 6-3.