Alex de Minaur takes Nick Kyrgios' No.1 mantle with third title of 2019

Alex de Minaur is zeroing in on the Australian No.1 ranking and the world's top 20 after claiming his third title of the year in Zhuhai.

The fleet of foot Sydneysider outlasted Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, claiming the final 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.

It capped a magnificent week for the 20-year-old, who downed three-time grand slam champion Andy Murray, world No.14 Borna Coric and No.10 Roberto Bautista Agut en route to the decider.

‘INCREDIBLE’: De Minaur 'completely annihilates' top-10 opponent

The trophy in China will sit alongside the ones de Minaur won in Sydney and Atlanta earlier in the year.

He's projected for a ranking move up to No.24 in the world, overtaking out of action compatriot Nick Kyrgios as the top-ranked Australian man.

Strong results on the rest of the Asian swing over the next month would see him crack the top 20 for the first time.

De Minaur had the early run of play in the final but squandered eight break points across Mannarino's first two service games.

The Frenchman stayed in the set, upsetting de Minaur's rhythm with his laconic playing style and looking like he might pinch the opener himself.

Mannarino missed a straightforward volley that would have given him a set point but then charged ahead with a 4-2 advantage in the tiebreak - only for de Minaur to rattle off five straight points to claim the set.

Another three breakpoints came and went in the fifth game of the second set but de Minaur, who didn't face a break point in the match, kept his nose in front.

He finally got the breakthrough in the tenth game to close out the match.

The pair may not have too long to wait to play each other again, first round wins at the Japan Open this week would set up a showdown in the last 16.

De Minaur targets more success

Rafael Nadal leads the way with four titles in 2019, while De Minaur joins Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev on three.

With four more tournaments taking place before the end of the year, De Minuar is targeting more success.

"I want to keep on pushing," he told a news conference.

"I've got four more ATPs to go and I've got to push as hard as I can to keep putting myself in good positions. So I'll do everything I can to recover and on we go to Tokyo."