Alex de Minaur has continued his solid start to 2024, winning the Acapulco ATP 500 title for a second consecutive year.

World number nine de Minaur dispensed of three-time major finalist and tournament sixth seed, Casper Ruud, in straight sets, winning 6-4, 6-4.

De Minaur, Australia's highest-ranked player, has now won eight ATP Tour titles.

His victory in Mexico comes a fortnight after he went down to Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner in the Rotterdam ATP 500 final.

De Minaur reached the fourth round of the Australian Open in January, having entered the tournament on the back of his first win over world number one Novak Djokovic.

He also reached the top 10 on the ATP rankings for the first time in his career following the United Cup.

De Minaur's win in Acapulco snapped a four-match losing streak in ATP Tour finals.

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

The third seed claimed an early break to take a 3-1 lead on his way to winning the first set.

Ruud responded strongly to grab an early break in the second set, only for de Minaur to pull level at 2-2 before getting his nose in front in the seventh game with a stinging forehand winner.

With the momentum swinging his way, de Minaur wrapped up the match with a solid service game and celebrated being the first player to retain the Acapulco title in 12 years.

The 25-year-old joins David Ferrer (2010-12), Nicolas Almagro (2008-09) and former world number one Thomas Muster (1993-96) in securing successive crowns in Mexico.

Barely into March, de Minaur has already beaten seven top-15 players this year.

He conquered Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz at the United Cup 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 first ATP Tour title win last week, also in Mexico in Los Cabos.

Thompson also denied Ruud in the final.

ABC/wires