Alex De Minaur defeats Ruud, wins back to back titles in Acapulco

Alex de Minaur secured a first trophy to show for his excellent start to the 2024 season on Saturday night in Acapulco, where the Australian downed Casper Ruud to defend his title at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC.

The third-seeded De Minaur prevailed 6-4, 6-4 in the championship match at the ATP 500 to clinch his eighth ATP Tour crown. He converted three of four break points he earned in his first Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Ruud since he defeated the Norwegian at the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals, and ultimately wrapped a one-hour, 57-minute victory for a second straight triumph on the Mexican Pacific Coast.

“It’s been an amazing week,” said De Minaur, who is now 15-4 for the season, in his post-match interview. “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.”

“Acapulco has been a very good place to me for my tennis career,” said De Minaur. “The first time I won a 500, and [now] the first time I’ve defended a title in my career. I feel at home here and it’s a great place to be.”

He is the first player to defend the title in Acapulco since the tournament switched to hard courts in 2014, and is now 11-2 at the event since making his debut in 2019.

One of the highlights of De Minaur’s triumph was a stunning all-court point in the penultimate game of the match. He showcased the lightning movement and defensive defiance that has already earned him four Top 10 wins in 2024 to outlast Ruud in a point he barely had the right to win.