Tien upset Zverev in Acapulco while Fokina, Nakashima advance

Learner Tien earned the best win of his career by PIF ATP Ranking Wednesday when he shocked World No. 2 Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4 in Acapulco.

The 19-year-old used his tricky lefty game and brick-wall consistency to lure the top seed into uncharacteristic errors, including a routine overhead that Zverev missed while down break point at 3-4 in the first set. Tien maintained his composure throughout the clash, tallying five consecutive games from 1-4 in the second set to seal the one-hour, 28-minute victory.

“I just went out there and tried to control my side of the court,” said Tien, who is into his second tour-level quarter-final. “Obviously I knew it was going to be a tough match. To come through feels great… I think just focussing on what I can control and keeping my cool as best as I can has really taken me a long way.”

The teenager is the youngest American man to record a victory against a top-three opponent since Andy Roddick in 2001. The lefty is up to No. 68 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

Tien has enjoyed a memorable few months, having reached the championship match at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in December. He qualified for the Australian Open and upset former finalist Daniil Medvedev en route to the fourth round, which helped him secure his Top 100 debut.

Showing no signs of slowing down, Tien will next face eighth seed Tomas Machac. The Czech, No. 25 in the PIF ATP Rankings, overcame German Daniel Altmaier 7-6(3), 6-1. It will mark Tien’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Machac.

Belgian David Goffin upset fifth seed Ben Shelton 7-6(3), 6-3. Goffin, 34, struck the ball cleanly and produced a court-coverage masterclass en route to a one-hour, 45-minute win. The former World No. 7 claimed 74 per cent of his service points, while the powerful lefty secured just 61 per cent, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Canadian Denis Shapovalov extended his winning streak to seven by racing past American Alex Michelsen 6-4, 6-3. Two weeks removed from his biggest career title at the ATP 500 in Dallas, the ninth seed Shapovalov is aiming to return to the Top 30 this week in Mexico.

Brandon Nakashima moved into the quarters after fourth seed Holger Rune retired with the American leading 3-0. Marcos Giron and home #NextGenATP hope Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez advanced after their respective opponents, third seed Tommy Paul and second seed Casper Ruud withdrew (both stomach ailments).

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina capped a day packed with upsets in Acapulco with a hard-earned night-session victory against seventh seed Frances Tiafoe. The Spaniard let slip a match point in the second-set tie-break but held firm for a 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 triumph. Davidovich Fokina, who reached the Delray Beach final earlier this month, will take on Pacheco Mendez in the quarter-finals.