Loved-up Alex de Minaur has positioned the champagne on ice after persevering with the most popular season begin of his flourishing profession with a high quality straight-sets closing conquer Casper Ruud to efficiently defend his Mexican Open title.
Third-seeded de Minaur outclassed Norway’s three-time grand slam runner-up 6-4 6-4 in a single hour, 57 minutes on Sunday to seize his eighth ATP title – and first of the 12 months.
But relatively than take pleasure in his glory, Australia’s world No.9 was planning to make an early morning sprint to the US to observe his British girlfriend Katie Boulter in motion in her maiden WTA Tour closing.
Only hours earlier on Sunday, Boulter upset third seed Emma Navarro 6-3 6-1 to e-book a title conflict with 2024 Australian Open quarter-finalist Marta Kostyuk on the San Diego Open.
“I’m looking forward to that,” de Minaur stated.
Renowned for his lightning velocity and relentless counter-punching, de Minaur arrange his newest victory with an imperious serving show.
De Minaur dropped solely 5 factors on serve in taking the opening set in 52 minutes, with the only real break within the third recreation.
He was particularly scientific on his first serve, profitable all however two factors after touchdown his opening supply of the rally.
The 25-year-old broke fifth-seeded Ruud twice extra to seal victory and be part of David Ferrer (2010-12), Nicolas Almagro (2008-09) and one-time world No.1 Thomas Muster (1993-96) in securing successive Mexican Open crowns.
“It’s been an amazing week,” de Minaur stated.
“It’s probably a week I didn’t really expect. I came into Mexico not feeling my best and just kept telling myself to keep giving myself chances.
“I feel right now I performed my greatest match of the match by far.
“Acapulco has been a very good place for me and my tennis career – first time I’ve won an ATP 500, first time I’ve defended a title in my career.
“I really feel at residence right here.”
De Minaur was contesting his 16th ATP Tour final, and second of the year, after losing to Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner last month in Rotterdam.
That was a rare defeat against the tour’s elite stars.
Barely into March and de Minaur has already claimed seven top-15 scalps for the year.
He conquered world No.1 Novak Djokovic, plus Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz during the Australian summer and has since added Andrey Rublev, Stefano Tsitsipas, Grigor Dimitrov and now 12th-ranked Ruud to his growing list of victims.
De Minaur’s success in Acapulco follows fellow Sydneysider Jordan Thompson’s maiden ATP title win last week, also in Mexico in Los Cabos.
And Thompson additionally denied Ruud within the closing.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
