Double delight for Alexander de Minaur as he defends Mexico Open title
- Planet Sport writer
- 3 March 2024
Alex de Minaur continued his red-hot form in Mexico when he defeated Casper Ruud in straight sets to defend his Mexico Open title in Acapulco on Saturday night.
The match took just under two hours as the pair battled in long rallies, with the difference being the Australian's ability to capitalise on break points, nailing three of four while Ruud converted just one of four.
The 25-year-old took an early lead in the first set at 3-1 and served out the rest of the set, while in the second the pair broke each other before de Minaur had the decisive break in the seventh game.
De Minaur won the same competition last year, beating American Tommy Paul, and further solidified his ranking in the top ten.
After the match, de Minaur said Acapulco is "becoming like a second home".
"I thought that it was impossible to get feel better after what happened last year, but I came back a year later to defend the title and it has been true pleasure.
"It's been an amazing week. Probably a week I didn't really expect if I'm honest. I came into Mexico not feeling my best and just kept on telling myself to keep giving myself chances. I think today I played my best match of the tournament, so I'm extremely happy with that."
De Minaur has won ten straight games in Acapulco and is the first player since David Ferrer in 2012 to win back-to-back titles at the tournament.
He defeated Jack Draper in the semi-final after the Englishman retired ill in the third set.
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