Alex De Minaur made history on February 3 by defeating Casper Rudd 6-4, 6-4 to become the first player since 2012 to secure back-to-back titles in the Mexican Open. As the third seed, De Minaur claimed his eighth ATP title, joining the ranks of only four players to achieve this feat in Mexico, the most recent being David Ferrer from 2010 to 2012.
De Minaur wins his 8th ATP title
The 25-year-old Australian clinched victory in his tenth consecutive match in Acapulco, breaking a four-match losing streak in ATP finals, which included his recent defeat in Rotterdam earlier this year.
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“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,” de Minaur said after the match.
The Mexican Open faced the threat of cancellation after a category five hurricane struck the city four months before, resulting in the loss of 52 lives. The Diamond Zone, an oceanfront area housing hotels and the tennis arena bore the brunt of the devastation.
“We (the tennis players) wanted to bring some joy to this wonderful city and I'm sure that Acapulco will shine stronger than ever,” added the Australian.
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Ruud falls short of maiden ATP 500 title
Ruud, seeded sixth, was unable to seize the opportunity to claim his 11th ATP title and his maiden ATP 500 title.
De Minaur secured an early break to establish a 3-1 advantage in the opening set, with both players then holding their serves to conclude the set with a score of 6-4. In the second set, both competitors traded breaks in the initial four games, before the Australian secured a break in the seventh game to edge ahead.
Defending champion de Minaur advanced to the final of the Mexican Open after Jack Draper retired in the third set of their last-four clash on March 2.
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