It promises to be an entertaining final at the ATP Acapulco Open and, as always, we here at LWOT will be offering our prediction, as well as for the action in Dubai and Santiago. But will it be Alex de Minaur or Casper Ruud who lifts the title?
ATP Acapulco Final Prediction
Alex De Minaur vs Casper Ruud
Head-to-head: de Minaur 1-1 Ruud
Third seed and defending champion de Minaur has the opportunity to become only the fourth man to retain his ATP Acapulco Open title when he faces Ruud in the final. The Australian arrived in Acapulco on the back of a shock second-round loss to Alex Michelsen in Lo Cabos and is now one match away from his eighth career title. Perhaps tellingly,he won his solitary title last season in Acapulco, losing the other three finals he palyed. This will be his second final this season after the loss to Janiik Sinner in Rotterdam.
Ruud, meanwhile, produced an excellent performance to overcome Holger Rune in the semifinal. The Norwegian came from a set down to beatthe second seed 6-3 6-4 and reach in his second final in as many weeks. He lost the Los Cabos final to another Australian, Jordan Thompson, but will be hoping to go one better this time and win his first ATP 500 title.
This will be the third meeting between the pair who split their first two matches. Third-time around, the likelier winner looks to be de Minaur. The Norwegian produced a brilliant baseline performance against Rune, but the consistency and court-coverage of de Minaur make him a very different proposition. The Australian has spent less time on the court this week and should be the fresher of the two going into the final. Ruud will pose a significant challenge but this is de Minaur’s to lose.
Prediction: de Minaur in 3
Main photo credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
