February 26, 2025
Top seed Alexander Zverev fought off a stern test from Italian Matteo Arnaldi to begin his campaign at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC on Tuesday.
The 2021 champion, who arrived in Acapulco following a two-week stint on South American clay, adapted to the humid, hard-court conditions and found his rhythm as the match progressed en route to a 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-4 win.
“I came from clay a few days ago, didn’t have much time,” said the No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. “I’m happy to beat a quality player and be through to the next round.”
The German raised his level in key moments, relying on his hefty first delivery and moving forward to apply pressure on the 24-year-old Arnaldi. Zverev came to net 32 times, converting 22 of those points.
“The break in the second set freed me a little bit and gave me some space to breathe, at least in that set. I started to play better from there, I think maybe he played a bit worse from that moment onwards,” said Zverev, who improved to 12-3 on the season and 14-4 at the Mexican ATP 500, where he lost in the opening round last year to countryman Daniel Altmaier — the 27-year-old’s only first-round defeat since the start of 2024.
Up next for Zverev will be the ultra-consistent Learner Tien. The American qualifier was a finalist at last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. Tien, 19, ousted 2022 Acapulco runner-up Cameron Norrie 7-6(5), 6-3 in the first round.
In Zverev’s half of the draw, fourth seed Holger Rune advanced with a 7-6(4), 6-3 victory against Roberto Carballes Baena. The 21-year-old Dane levelled his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Carballes Baena at 2-2 and will next face American Brandon Nakashima, who moved within one of capturing his 100th tour-level match win by ousting Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 7-6(6), 7-5.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina earned one of the comeback wins of the season, saving four consecutive match points to oust Italian Mattia Bellucci 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-2. The lucky loser Bellucci held a 6/2 lead in the second-set tie-break before the Spaniard staged an inspiring comeback.
Canadian Denis Shapovalov extended his winning streak to six by defeating #NextGenATP American Nishesh Basavareddy 7-5, 6-2. Two weeks removed from winning his biggest career title at the ATP 500 in Dallas, the ninth seed Shapovalov dropped just six points behind his first serve (20/26), according to Infosys ATP Stats.
Former junior No. 1 and home hope Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez overcame Aleksandar Vukic 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(4) in a three-hour, one-minute battle. In front of a packed Grandstand, the 19-year-old wild card relied on the crowd’s support as he became the youngest Mexican player to win an ATP Tour match since 1996 (Alejandro Hernandez, Santiago). A second-round meeting with Casper Ruud awaits the teenager.
In the night session, a pair of American stars notched contrasting first-round wins. Seventh seed Frances Tiafoe eased past last week’s Rio de Janeiro finalist Alexandre Muller 6-4, 6-2, while Alex Michelsen had to withstand a late comeback from Buyunchaokete. Michelsen let slip a 5-2 lead with a double break in the deciding set against the Chinese star before eventually pulling through for a 6-2, 7-6(5), 7-6(5) triumph. In the second round, Tiafoe will play Davidovich Fokina, with Michelsen set to take on Shapovalov.
© Copyrights Sixsports. All Rights Reserved.