De Minaur retains Mexican Open title with Ruud victory

Alex de Minaur has continued the hottest season start of his flourishing career with a quality straight-sets final triumph over Casper Ruud to successfully defend his Mexican Open title.

Third-seeded de Minaur outclassed Norway’s three-time grand slam runner-up 6-4 6-4 in one hour, 57 minutes on Sunday to capture his eighth ATP title – and first of the year.

Renowned for his lightning speed and relentless counter-punching, Australia’s world No.9 set up his latest victory with an imperious serving display.

De Minaur dropped only five points on serve in taking the opening set in 52 minutes, with the sole break in the third game.

He was especially clinical on his first serve, winning all but two points after landing his opening delivery of the rally.

The 25-year-old broke fifth-seeded Ruud twice more to seal victory and join David Ferrer (2010-12), Nicolas Almagro (2008-09) and one-time world No.1 Thomas Muster (1993-96) in securing successive Mexican Open crowns.

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 also denied Ruud in the final.