Alex de Minaur hails his Aussie fighting spirit after beating Tommy Paul to triumph at Mexican Open 

Aussie star Alex de Minaur paid tribute to his fighting spirit after he came back from one set down to beat Tommy Paul in the final of the Mexican Open in Acapulco on Sunday.

The 24-year-old lost the first set, but forced his way back into the match to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a two-hour and 26-minute slog.

‘It feels great, it feels amazing,’ he told ATP TV after the match.

‘I know the hard work I’ve put in to be here, and it’s good to see the results.

‘It’s not always that you win a tournament and you get to finish a week unbeaten so I’ll definitely cherish this heading into Indian Wells and Miami.’

Alex de Minaur won the Mexican Open in Acapulco on Sunday to claim his seventh career title

The Australian beat Tommy Paul 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a two-hour and 26-minute slog

De Minaur saved five break points in the opening game of the final set and acknowledged he felt he needed to scrap his way out of a difficult situation to change the momentum of the final set.

‘I had that in the back of my mind and I just told myself to keep pushing and if I could keep pushing myself and get out of that game then the momentum is gonna switch so I’m very happy I was able to get out of that,’ he said.

‘I just want to keep pushing, keep getting the most out of myself. I might not play unbelievable tennis every day but I know I’m gonna fight until the end.

‘I’ve got a whole lot of heart in this little body of mine and I enjoy competing, so very happy with it.’

The Mexican Open is De Minaur’s seventh career title and first at the ATP 500 level, after winning his previous six titles at ATP 250 events.

De Minaur played tribute to his fighting spirit after he came back from one set down 

The Australian will move up from 22nd to 18th in ATP rankings, just below his career-best ranking of 15th he achieved in 2021.

Paul, who has now lost to De Minaur in all their four meetings, was magnanimous in defeat.

‘Demon played an unbelievable match,’ he said.

‘I just respect you so much and I’m happy for you. Congratulations.’