March 03, (THEWILL)- Alex de Minaur clinched his second consecutive Mexican Open title on Saturday, defeating Casper Ruud 6-4 6-4 to claim his eighth career ATP crown.
The 25-year-old Australian was dominant in the final, dispatching world number nine Ruud in under two hours at the hard-court tournament in Acapulco.
De Minaur, currently ranked 11th, lost four straight finals after his 2023 Mexican Open victory before finding his form once again this week. His latest title comes a month after falling short in the championship match at Rotterdam. The Sydneysider also now holds two victories over Ruud, having previously defeated the Norwegian at the 2019 ATP NextGen Finals.
For Ruud, the result marks disappointment for the second consecutive week. The 2022 US Open and two-time French Open finalist was unable to capture his first title since April 2022, when he won on clay at Estoril. Last Sunday, Ruud was runner-up to fellow Australian Jordan Thompson at Los Cabos.
Both players were gracious after the Mexican Open final, exchanging compliments on the court. “Too good today,” said Ruud of his opponent’s performance. De Minaur returned praise, saying: “It was hard work. Thank you for a great match.”
The title consolidates De Minaur’s status as a force on hard courts and kicks off a big 2024 season for the Australian as he looks to continue his rise towards the highest echelons of men’s tennis.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
