- The Mexican Open Telcel presented by HSBC invited the former Argentine tennis player, champion in 2018, as ambassador for the 33rd edition of the ATP 500
Acapulco, February 26, 2026.– Eight years later, Juan Martin del Potro is back in Acapulco. He remembers 2018 vividly, with the image of a mariachi hat, the Guaje de Plata trophy in his hands, and the affection of the Mexican fans who celebrated another Latin American champion in style.
“It was special to win that tournament because I had to face Thiem, Zverev, Ferrer, Anderson, many Top 10 players, a very tough draw, and I was the winner. Mexico has always had very good people, a lot of respect, and here the treatment, the hospitality, is very nice, we feel comfortable coming here,” shares the former Argentine tennis player in his role as ambassador for the AMT 2026.
“I’ve been coming to Mexico since I was 14 or 15, so returning to this country is always special. This year, as ambassador, I don’t get to play, but it’s nice to be back here. I come to reconnect with everything. When you play, your time is limited and it’s difficult to connect with people, but now I can share with them and contribute my ideas too,” he adds.
In 2018, “delPo” won the last two titles of his career, out of a total of 22. First in Acapulco, and then he moved to California to win his only Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells. The harvest of this success led him to achieve the best ranking of his professional life as No. 3 in the world.
After being forced to retire due to injuries in 2022, the “Tower of Tandil” can now enjoy tennis from a different perspective. “Tennis encompasses all those points. It’s a high-level, physically demanding sport, with class and elegance, and tennis events also have a very nice social aspect. That means that people who go to a tennis event always leave very happy,” he said.
The 37-year-old Argentine is not only impressed by Acapulco’s resilience—“I see a very nice change, a very good change for the better. I love that despite adversity, they are still standing and growing”—but also enjoys all the activities the destination has to offer outside of tennis, such as “enjoying the sunset with a beer, a glass of wine, and friends.”
In the end, it’s no secret that the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC offers unique ingredients for all its visitors, from fans to players. “Being next to the beach, playing a few meters from the sea, night matches, people with a festive and very cheerful atmosphere, that’s why I think it’s a special tournament on the circuit. Everything is very different, the essence, that’s what makes people keep it in a special place in their memories.”
Regarding the legendary AMT parties, which start every Thursday during tournament week, Juan Martin del Potro reveals, “Now that they don’t control me if I have a drink or not, it’s sure to be fun. The party was as good as that 2018 final, so I’ll stick with the Mexican Open parties as the activities I enjoy the most, and what happens there stays there,” he confesses with a laugh.
