Acapulco, February 21st. – Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, emblematic characters of Disney, were present today along with the Italian Mateo Berrettini (No. 6), the British Cameron Norrie (No. 12) and the Mexican Santiago González who participated in the traditional Kids Day in the XXIX edition of the Abierto Mexicano de Telcel presentado por HSBC.

Kids Day is an opportunity for girls and boys in the tournament to approach the stars who play in Acapulco; the players give them advice, gifts and they also share their training.

This past Monday, the three players achieved what Kids Day is all about. “These types of activities are very important to motivate children,” said the Mexican Santiago González, who will play in the doubles tournament with the Argentine Andrés Molteni.

Berrettini was the most popular and had a full audience on court 2 of the Arena GNP Seguros. He was greeted with the public’s admiration: “Matteo, Matteo!”.

The Italian, who trained for an hour with the Mexican Manuel Sánchez, showed a little bit of the technique that has led him to be number 6 of the world.

The activity came to and end with the Mexican Santiago González and the British Cameron Norrie. Gonzalez will face Norrie in the first round of the doubles tournament on Wednesday.

• The new venue of the tournament, the Arena GNP Seguros, is ready for the XXIX edition of the tournament
• “The arena is ready to welcome as the opening event a tennis tournament with the best players in the world, and in the coming months, will also host other shows and concerts,” Renata Burillo said, president of MexTenis.

Acapulco, February 21^st, 2022. – This Monday, the President of the Board of Directors of Mextenis, Renata Burillo, participated in the inauguration of the Arena GNP Seguros, the new home of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, the most important tournament, in its category, in Latin America.

The work invested on the sport complex, whose main stadium has a capacity for 10,229 people, was completed a few weeks ago, meanwhile, during this past weekend, all of the last details were finished. The venue is ready to receive the largest capacity in its history.

“A year ago, this project was only being presented, today, it’s a reality. During this time in Grupo Pegaso, we have witnessed a strong effort during recent months in order for us to reach success this week,” said Renata Burillo, the president of MexTenis, in a press conference.

She mentioned that it has been 12 months of intense work “both in the construction of this Arena, as well as to a strategic level to prepare and finalize what we consider the best team of players in the history of the tournament”, with the Spanish Rafael Nadal in mind.

Burillo said that from now on for the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC and the Arena GNP Seguros ” a new era of challenges in which they will be “great allies”.

“The arena is ready to welcome as the opening event a tennis tournament with the best players in the world, and in the coming months, will also host other shows and concerts,” explained Burillo.

The director of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por, Raúl Zurutuza, remarked that the XXIX edition of the tournament has the best players in history in Acapulco, with five Top 10 players, the tickets for the six-days tournament are now sold out, which guarantees a full capacity during the Tournament.

“The public has responded incredibly; we have sold all the tickets. We believe that we will do incredible and we will leave a very big challenge for the XXX edition next year,” said Zurutuza.

Regarding the inauguration of the Arena GNP Seguros, the director of the tournament pointed out that he has “finally achieved a dream he has pursued for many years by Grupo Pegaso and Mextenis“

At the inauguration of the tournament’s new venue, the president of Grupo Autofin Mexico and Grupo Mundo Imperial, the public accountant, Juan Antonio Hernández, thanked his Mextenis partners and mentioned that after the tournament, they will get to work on the functionality of the complex.

“We’ve worked on this project with a lot of affection. We want this ‘monster’ to stand out globally,’ said Hernandez, who pledged to also hold at least 20 more events this year.

“We are going to become a global attraction. We have to grow in illusion and investment,” he said.

Also, the Governor of the State of Guerrero, Evelyn Salgado, pointed out that the new stadium, Arena GNP Seguros, “comes to reinforce the tourist vocation of Acapulco and is one of the largest and most modern venues in the world”.

She also thanked investors and workers “because 100% of the work force is from Guerrero ” and pledged to guarantee the conditions of governance and security.  “We have to keep working for the good of our state,” she said. 

The Main Stadium is designed to have more than 10,000 comfortably seated fans, who will appreciate this edition with authentic duels among the best tennis players in the world.

The venue has a Grand Stand (Grand Stand Caliente.mx) with a capacity of more than 2,000 people, 4 alternate courts with the capacity of more than 2,200 people, also privileged open spaces with food and drink areas, restaurants, shops and an extensive commercial and entertainment area.

• Altmaier was immune to the surprises and confirmed his good level in the qualys.
• Two more players made it to the first round despite their defeats.

Acapulco, February 20th, 2022. – The Qualy ended up with more than four winners, since two other players also celebrated their entrance to the main draw. Thanks to a couple of casualties in the main draw, two tennis players celebrated victory even though they fell in the last match in the previous round.

The German Daniel Altmaier had to come from behind to defeat Denis Kudla, who had previously eliminated the Mexican Rodrigo Pacheco in his first match. The first qualifier of the previous round got his ticket to the main draw after a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory, while the American was one of the Lucky Losers.

In a duel that ended with two winners, Jeffrey John Wolf caught up to Kevin Anderson, two-time finalist of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC. The American won 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 after more than two and a half hours of play and got his first-round pass.

The final match of the day defined the rest of the places for the main draw. Oscar Otte defeated Stefan Kozlov 6-1, 0-6, 7-6. Previously, Yoshihito Nishioka had surpassed Peter Gojowczyk 6-3, 6-2, but the German also advanced to the main draw as another Lucky Loser, thanks to Reilly Opelka’s defeat.

The staff in charge of stringing all of the players’ rackets have become a fundamental part of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC. They are responsible for creating the perfect tool for the players.

Javier Cárdenas is in charge of the stringers staff,  made up of four Mexican elements. “My job is to receive the rackets, all the requests that players want in terms of tension, what logo, what kind of string they will occupy,” Javo explained in an interview.

Although it is one of the most interesting jobs in tennis, you have to be prepared to meet the requests of the players: “There are players who arrive an hour before the game and during the game they send more rackets to string. Some other requests arrive at night,” he said.

On average, the stringer team handles 30 to 50 rackets a day, so they play a fundamental role for the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC.

• The three-time champion of Acapulco said he was happy to return to a tournament where he has always received great support from the public.
• Nadal mentioned that his decision to play in the Mexican tournament was due to his desire to compete again after a long period of inactivity.

Rafa acknowledged that he has a difficult draw, and he spoke about his first rival in the tournament

Acapulco, February 20th, 2022. – One of the most favorite players for the Mexican public is ready to start his participation in the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC. The Spaniard Rafael Nadal (No. 6) said he was happy to return to a tournament that has seen him grow and that has accompanied him throughout his career.

Despite the options he has during the start of this season, the Spaniard mentioned that he likes to choose Acapulco to compete after the first Grand Slam of the year: “I know there are other events in the week, but I have always said that I like to be in Acapulco. This year I’m here and it makes me happy. Next year we’ll see,” the player said.

The publics affection has been one of the main reasons for Nadal to be in the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, as Rafa said: ” I have always felt supported in Latin America. There’s no exception in Acapulco, I have always felt the affection of the people and I thank the Mexican public for the support they give me when I play here, or I am visiting”.

Despite the physical activity he lived at the Australian Open, his 21st Grand Slam was remarkable, the Spaniard made clear his reasons why he decided to attend the tournament once again: “I come for two very simple and easy reasons: one being that I have played very little in practically two years, and I feel like playing tennis, this is the simplest reason,” he said.

During the main draw ceremony, Nadal recognized that his possible path in the tournament is not simple at all: “It is a complicated draw. A very difficult first round, with a very good player (Reilly Opelka) that nobody would want to have as a rival in a first round of the tournament. I will try my best to advance in the best possible way,” said the Spaniard.
Rafael Nadal’s debut at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC will be on Tuesday, the second day in which the matches of the first round will be completed. The winner of 21 Grand Slams will seek a fourth victory in Acapulco, something that only Thomas Muster and David Ferrer have been able to achieve, top winners of the tournament.

• The German is the reigning champion of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC.
• Zverev will play in Acapulco for the fifth time in his career

‘Sascha’ was born with a racket in his hand. Destiny, marked by a family legacy, led Alexander towards tennis from the moment he was part of this world. A couple of retired tennis players decided to continue with, what a couple of years ago, they had left.

The first to continue the legacy in the professional field was Mischa. The oldest of the new Zverev was a professional while a little Alexander traveled with him around the world and became familiar with his new hobby, however, everything was part of the destiny.

Alexander first listened to his parents’ stories as professionals and then watched his brother practice and play tournaments. He understood that his future was written and that it would be a matter of time before one more Zverev joined the family list of professionals.

The story began with Alexander’s father, then Irina joined, and then Mischa, who reached his peak when the young ‘Sascha’ began to play the big tournaments despite his young age. Then the family understood that the youngest of them would be in charge of representing them.

The reigning champion of Acapulco has always been accompanied by his family, especially by his father, or in any case, by Lovik and Junior, his two dogs. Beyond the spotlight, Alexander is still the same guy who once idolized Roger Federer and dreamed about being a professional.

When he is not playing tennis, sports continue to be present in the life of Zverev. Soccer, basketball, and golf are some of his hobbies beyond tennis, also video games. Among their hobbies, family and pets, they make up the human part of one of the most important players on the circuit.

The Zverev legacy is about to become a story that was born decades ago, and today, it has a player installed in the tennis elite. Although there is no assurance in the future, Alexander has been a reality for some time now.

• The Qualys begin in the XXIX edition of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC
• There are two Mexican players looking for a ticket to the tournament’s main draw
• The South African, two-time finalist, Kevin Anderson, is back in Acapulco

Although the main activity of the XXIX edition begins on Monday February 21st with the official inauguration of the new Arena GNP Seguros, the matches begin behind closed doors this Saturday February 19th with the first 8 matches and the presence of two Mexicans: Gerardo Lopez, Davis Cup player and 16-year-old Rodrigo Pacheco, who had an outstanding participation in the junior category of the Australian Open back in January.

Another outstanding player is the South African Kevin Anderson, who was a finalist, twice, in Acapulco (2014 and 2018). Together, with the Germans Daniel Altmaier, Oscar Otte and Peter Gojowcyzk, they arrived as the favorites to advance in the first qualifying round, and win some of the tickets available to access the main draw of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC.

Rodrigo Pacheco, who also makes his debut in the qualifying phase of the ATP tour, will play against the American Denis Kudla, while Gerardo Lopez has a difficult challenge against the fourth seed of the qualy, Peter Gojowczyk.

Another outstanding player is the Italian, and veteran, Andreas Seppi who will play against the American J Wolf. The Colombian Nicolás Mejía, who received one of the three wild cards for the classification, will play against Kevin Anderson, who in 2021 was out of the main draw due to a hip injury.

Another outstanding player is the second seed for the qualy, the German Oscar Otte who will play against the Ecuadorian Emilio Gómez, son of the former tennis champion of the Roland Garros, Andrés Gómez. This Saturday will begin with the draw ceremony to find out which path the 32 players will face in this historic edition. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Monday morning, February 21st.

FIRST ROUND ENCOUNTERS:

(1) Daniel Altmaier (DEU) vs Ernesto Escobedo (USA)

(WC) Rodrigo Pacheco (MEX) vs (6) Denis Kudla (USA)

(2) Oscar Otte (DEU) vs Emilio Gómez (ECU)

Stefan Kozlov (USA) vs (5) Steve Johnson (USA)

(3) Kevin Anderson (ZAF) vs (WC) Nicolás Mejía (COL)

J.J Wolf (EUA) vs (8) Andreas Seppi (ITA)

(4) Peter Gojowczyk (DEU) vs (WC) Gerardo López Villaseñor (MEX) Cedrik-Marcel Stebe (DEU) vs (7) Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN)

• The XXIX edition of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC will have Mexican players in the main singles and doubles draws, as well as in the qualy.
• Feliciano López will attend the tournament for the sixth consecutive year, while Fernando Verdasco returns for the first time since 2018.
• The qualification tournament will be on Saturday, February 19th and Sunday February  20th; the main draw will be played starting Monday February  21st.

Mexico City, February 15th, 2022. – The Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC shared the nine invitations that will be distributed between the main draw and the qualifying tournament that will be part of the XXIX edition of the tournament. The Spaniards Feliciano López and Fernando Verdasco, as well as the Mexican Alejandro Hernández will participate in the singles main draw.

Feliciano López’s double participation in the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC will partner up with Stefanos Tsitsipas in the doubles tournament. The other couple is the  American John Isner and the Mexican Hans Hach Verdugo, who already know what it is to win in Mexico, because last season they managed to lift the trophy in Los Cabos.

Latin American youth will be playing the qualification round for the individual draw. Rodrigo Pacheco, who recently participated in the junior category of the Australian Open, will be the first player of his generation to participate in a qualifying round of an ATP World Tour tournament. Gerardo López Villaseñor and the Colombian Nicolás Mejía received the last invitations for this round.
The qualification round before the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC will be played behind closed doors, therefore the new headquarters, the Arena GNP Seguros, will open its doors starting Monday, February 21^st with the official start of the main draw.