Alex de Minaur rallied to win the largest title of his profession, beating Tommy Paul 3-6 6-Four 6-1 within the closing of the Mexican Open on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Australian received his seventh profession title and first on the ATP 500 degree.
He received his earlier six titles at ATP 250 occasions, most not too long ago final 12 months in Atlanta.
De Minaur will transfer to 18th on the earth rankings.
His career-best rating is No.15 in 2021.
“Like every part in my profession, it has been step-by-step,” he advised the ATP web site of his return to the highest 20.
“I simply need to hold pushing, hold getting essentially the most out of myself. I do know I won’t play unbelievable tennis each day however I do know I’ll combat to the top.
“I’ve acquired a complete lot of coronary heart on this little physique of mine and I take pleasure in competing, so I am very pleased with it.”
After discovering a means within the second set, De Minaur saved 5 break factors in a marathon five-deuce sport to open the ultimate set and Paul by no means recovered.
“It feels nice, it feels wonderful,” De Minaur mentioned.
“I do know the arduous work that is put in to be right here and it is good to see the outcomes.
“It isn’t at all times that you simply win the match and also you get to complete per week unbeaten, so I am going to positively cherish this going into Indian Wells and Miami.
Though de Minaur dominated the ultimate set, Paul battled till the top, saving two match factors and getting on the board with a maintain of serve at 0-5 earlier than the Australian closed out the match.
“Simply to type of keep within the match, particularly within the second set… I simply dug deep, managed to scrape my means by means of it,” de Minaur mentioned.
“After which the primary sport of the third set was precisely like my semi-final in opposition to Holger (Rune).
“So I had that behind my thoughts, I simply advised myself to maintain pushing.
“If I may hold pushing myself and get out of that sport, the momentum was going to modify. I am very completely satisfied I used to be in a position to get out of that.”
De Minaur is the second Australian champion in Acapulco after Nick Kyrgios’ 2019 victory.
