• Prior to the match, the Day of the Flag was celebrated with the display of a monumental Mexican flag on the court of the GNP Seguros Arena.
  

Acapulco, February 24, 2025.- American Tommy Paul, ranked 10th in the PIF ATP Rankings, advanced to the second round of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC by beating Canadian Gabriel Diallo (No.89). 

Paul took advantage of his greater experience to tilt the match in his favor and defeated the Canadian, who came from the qualifiers, 6-2, 6-2 in 75 minutes of play. 

In the first set, Paul held his serve on all four of his serves and broke Diallo twice, in the third and seventh games, to make it 6-2. 

The second set followed the same path as the first. Paul took a 4-1 lead by opening with a break, defending his serve twice and adding a second break in the fifth game. He then served for 5-1, Diallo made it 5-2 and signed the set for 6-2. 

In the second round, Paul will face compatriot Marcos Giron, who defeated Australian Adam Walton.

“My first serve percentage was around 61% and I don’t think it improved in the second set. That’s something I need to improve. I had a couple of double faults to start the match, I have to start the matches well and I’m losing on second point returns, I don’t know why, some little things,” Tommy Paul acknowledged. 

Before the match, a group of soldiers performed the ceremony of the Mexican Flag Day, which is celebrated on February 24, an exciting moment for the fans, as a monumental flag was displayed on the court and covered the court of the Arena GNP Seguros. 

In another match of the opening day, the British Cameron Norrie, who came to the tournament with a wild card, and the American Learner Tien, coming from the qualifiers, the latter won 7-6 (5), 6-3. 

Tien opened the first set with a 4-1 lead after defending his serve three times and breaking Norrie in the second game, but the British player reacted to make things 4-4. Then, both broke each other’s serve and defended theirs for 6-6 and Tien defined better in the tiebreak.

The second set both reached 2-2 and Tien took it 6-3 by breaking Norrie three times, who paid the wear and tear of the first set in a match that was close to two hours long.

In the second round, Tien will play the winner of the match between top-seeded German Alexander Zverev and Italian Matteo Arnaldi.