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Ben Shelton advances after tough challenge against Flavio Cobolli

Written by Abierto Mexicano de Tenis on . Posted in News.

  • The American No. 14 in the world won an intense duel against Italian Flavio Cobolli.
  • In the Grandstand, Belgian David Goffin defeated Australian Rinky Hijikata in two sets and will be Shelton’s opponent.

Acapulco, February 24, 2025.- Ben Shelton required two tie breaks 7-6(4), 7-6(4) to defeat in a complicated duel the Italian Flavio Cobolli (No. 39) at the Arena GNP Seguros stadium, to advance to the round of 16 of the XXXII edition of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC. 

“I made a lot of mistakes, today was very difficult, I didn’t have everything but I still managed to mix up my game to be able to push gas in the big moments,” assured the current No. 14 after his victory.

Since the draw was announced, the duel between the two 22-year-old talents raised many expectations due to the level of both players. It was a physically demanding duel for both and although the world No. 39 represented a tough challenge for the American in two hours of match, saving four break points in the first set and being superior with the percentage of effectiveness of his serve in the second, Shelton finally showed his best weapon, his serve with 13 aces.

“I feel good, tough match for me, but it shows I’m in good shape and I’m happy to advance. He is a great player, he has great return and for my style of play he presents many challenges” added Shelton, who has a 3-2 record in Acapulco and reached the quarterfinals in 2024.

In the Grandstand, 34-year-old veteran David Goffin advanced to the second round after defeating Australian Rinky Hijikata in two sets and will be Shelton’s next opponent.

With 10 years between the two, they had previously met twice, with one win for each. The last time, in January in Adelaide, with 24-year-old Hijikata triumphing on home soil. However, on this occasion the No. 82 in the PIF ATP Rankings had no chance against the maturity shown by the world No. 63, who did not commit a single double fault in a match that lasted 1 hour and 24 minutes.

The Belgian dominated all the statistics of the match and in the first set alone he had a 77% efficiency in points won with his first serve. Hijikata, on the other hand, saved 10 of 15 breaks and had 5 double faults throughout the match.

Jorge Campos applauds AMT for helping and boosting Acapulco’s recovery

Written by Abierto Mexicano de Tenis on . Posted in News.

  • The former soccer player thanked the support that professional tennis players gave to Acapulco after hurricanes Otis (2023) and John (2024).

Acapulco, Guerrero, February 24, 2025.- Three-time Mexican world champion Jorge Campos, originally from Acapulco, attended the first day of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC to promote the recovery of this tourist destination that suffered the passage of hurricanes Otis in 2023 and John in 2024.

“I have always felt proud to be part of Guerrero, of Acapulco, (I know) that the people of the Abierto Mexicano de Tenis are supporting Guerrero and Acapulco in these difficult times,” Campos told the media attending the coverage of the tournament.

He recalled that the Burillo family, with the company Mextenis, organizer of the tournament, “has done very well every year, in the events in which they have been involved. It is a family that I have known for many years, Mr. Alejandro Burillo and Renata Burillo. They have always been concerned about Acapulco and Guerrero. They have given everything to continue supporting this important event at world level,” he said. 

Campos, world champion in the United States 94, France 98 and Korea-Japan 2002, thanked “the professional tennis players, everyone, from various eras who sent videos on the networks, they were aware of Acapulco”.

He said that the beautiful port “is a tourist place where we have received all the people of international stature in sports, and I believe that sports have always helped, especially in the face of tragedies. Sport has always been present,” he acknowledged. 

Campos said that “the quick recovery of the city and taking into account that last year there was another hurricane (John), the port is on its feet”. 

He considered that Governor Evelyn Salgado Pineda “has done a great job in this aspect, she has been involved with many people, with many businessmen and I think she has done a very good job. It has been two very difficult years, but Acapulco is a special place”.

About what Acapulco lacks to fully recover, he expressed: “some people need to believe in us” and said that the press is an important part of transmitting what is seen in Acapulco and in the tournament. “Now that I was on the road I saw many cars and tourists coming to Acapulco, probably for the tournament”.

Casper Ruud advances to the second round of the AMT 2025

Written by Abierto Mexicano de Tenis on . Posted in News.

  • With the objective of repeating the final in Acapulco, the Norwegian tennis player will know this Tuesday his opponent in the round of 16.
  • Czech Tomas Machac (No. 25) will face German Daniel Altmaier (No. 76) in the second round; they have never met on the ATP tour.

Acapulco, February 24, 2025.- Norwegian tennis player Casper Ruud, World No. 5 and second seed of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC advanced to the round of 16 with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Frenchman (No. 61) in a match that lasted one hour and 42 minutes. 

Despite having a difficult start to the match after losing the first two games, the 2024 finalist recovered with a powerful serve and a solid backhand from the back of the court to take the first set. In the second set, Ruud broke Rinderknech’s serve twice to secure his ticket to the second round at the ATP 500.

“I’m honestly thinking one match at a time. Today was a good match and I will try to take advantage of it. Every match you can win here or on this surface gives you confidence, so I know what it’s like to play a final here because I did it last year, but that doesn’t mean I will do it again this year. Of course, I’m going to try to give my best, the defending champion is not here, so I’m sure there will be a new champion this year because Alex (De Miñaur) is not here, but anyone can win, there are many great players,” Ruud assured in a press conference after his victory.

At the same time, in the match that opened the Grandstand activity, German Daniel Altmaier (No. 76) overcame Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic (No. 44) by 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, who last year left him out of the tournament in the second round, so he got his revenge. That was the German’s best performance in Acapulco.

On the other hand, in one of the most even duels of the day, Czech compatriots Jakub Mensik (No. 54) and Tomas Machac (No. 25) faced each other, with Menchac winning 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 to get his seventh victory of the current season and his first win in the AMT.

It will be the first time that Machac and Altmaier will face each other on the ATP Tour as professionals, they have only played once and that was at the junior tournament in Antalya, Turkey, in 2019, with victory for the Czech tennis player on clay court.

The AMT 2025 has a complete draw after the qualy tickets were defined

Written by Abierto Mexicano de Tenis on . Posted in News.

  • Canadian Diallo, Australian Walton and Americans Tien and Basavareddy won the four tickets to the main draw.

Acapulco, Guerrero, February 23, 2025.- The main draw of the XXXII edition of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC, being played this week in Acapulco, was completed this Sunday with the definition of the four tickets granted by the qualy.

Canadian Gabriel Diallo (No. 88) easily defeated Italian Mattia Bellucci (No. 70) 6-1, 6-2. 

In the first set, Diallo took a 3-0 lead by defending his serve twice and breaking Bellucci, who reacted until the fourth game, for 3-1, but Diallo repeated by winning his serve, broke the Italian in the sixth game and served for the set for 6-1.

In the second game, Diallo got the better of Bellucci by breaking him three times and defending on the same occasions to make it 6-0 and advance to the main draw.

In an evenly contested match, American Learner Tien (No.80) defeated Serbian Dusan Lajovic (No.83) 7-5, 7-6 (7) in a two-hour match that Lajovic came close to sending to a third set, but Tien came back from a 1-4 deficit in the second set tiebreaker to take the match.  

Meanwhile, Australian Adam Walton (No. 90) came from a set down to beat American Aleksandar Kovacevic (No. 77) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Kovacevic took the first set, but Walton reacted and won the second set by breaking his opponent twice, while in the third set he broke him in the eighth game and served for the match.

In the match between Americans, Nishesh Basavareddy (No. 106) defeated Stefan Kozlov (No.360) 6-2, 6-4.

Once again Kids Day becomes a spectacular experience for children in Acapulco.

Written by Abierto Mexicano de Tenis on . Posted in News.

  • With this initiative, the little ones have the opportunity to spend time with their favorite tennis players, in addition to seeking to integrate the community through sports.

Acapulco, February 23, 2025.- In front of dozens of children from different neighborhoods of Acapulco, the traditional Kids Day of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC was held, being an authentic sports party with the participation of several figures of the tournament.

In the first activity were the Mexican Rodrigo Pacheco and the Americans Alex Michelsen and Ben Shelton, who were received with great enthusiasm by the public that gathered at the main court of the GNP Seguros Arena. Each one of them led a team of children, who played a pelote demonstrating their best skills with the racquet, reaching the final a pair of 10 year olds, Iñaki and Roberto.  

For the second Kids Day activity, Spain’s Roberto Carballés Baena took the court, accompanied by Canada’s Denis Shapovalov and Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie. The game was about hitting the tennis ball to giant rackets distributed on the court, with Norrie’s team finishing as the winner.

To conclude Kids Day, Daniel Altmaier, Lorenzo Musetti, Marcos Girón and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina entered the main stadium to play doubles with the children, having fun in a game called “The King of the Court”.

With another edition of this activity, the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC reaffirms its commitment to children and is concerned about them enjoying a tennis session with their favorite players, in addition to winning prizes, gifts and an experience they will remember throughout their lives. 

In the stands it was all fun as the parents of the children cheered on their children who competed alongside the professional tennis players with excitement and enthusiasm.

With an agenda of activities planned for children and parents, including Kids Day and Family Day, the AMT seeks to integrate the community in sports initiation programs, in this case with a first approach to tennis for boys and girls.

MEDIA DAY AT AMT 2025

Written by Abierto Mexicano de Tenis on . Posted in News.

  • Prior to the start of each tournament, the main players of the draw dedicate a few minutes to the media to talk about their feelings before the start of the tournament in Acapulco.

Acapulco, Guerrero, February 23, 2025.- The stars of the XXXII edition of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC dedicated a few minutes to the media and tournament prior to the start of the main draw activity.

Here’s what the stars had to say:

“Happy to be here and to be in a place where I have been successful in winning the tournament in 2021, I hope I can repeat. I want to show good tennis and compete for the title. You always have to focus on the next match, on the opponent. I know I am #2 in the world and there are a lot of expectations, but I am happy to be in that position and in that ranking but there are a lot of good players and I can’t wait for this challenge. My goal is to win the big finals, win Grand Slams and be number one. It’s been my dream all my life and I hope this is the year.”

–Alexander Zverev–

“It feels good, another year in this beautiful place, the weather is amazing and the fans always give me a good welcome. It’s one game at a time, all the players have the same opportunity, but we know there are great players, very hungry and you never know what’s going to happen, it’s going to be tough but I’m ready to give it my all. Last year was a great atmosphere, I did my best” -he made it to the final-“.

–Casper Ruud-

“Nothing is much different with me. I’ve been doing the same thing I used to do, but it’s exciting, it was a long-time goal to get to the Top 10 and I’ll keep setting goals, keep improving and never be satisfied. I want to win bigger tournaments than I’ve won and be Top 5. Brad Gilbert is the best coach on the tour, he should have won the title for the best in the nomination. Getting me to the Top 10 is a great achievement after how we started. His tennis IQ is off the charts and he understands me well. I am very happy with my whole team. I know I have to bring my best game to the tournament and the year has started well for me.”

–Tommy Paul–

“It feels good to be here in Acapulco, I love the people, the atmosphere, it’s a great stadium, it feels like home and I always want to come back. Even my dad loved playing here and in Mexico City, for the same reasons as me, playing at night, it’s something special and I love it. My first match is tough, Flavio Cobolli is a great player and there are no easy duels on the tour. It will be an entertaining match for the fans.”

–Ben Shelton–

“I haven’t had the best start to the season, but that’s how it usually happens to me, I’m happy to be here in Mexico, it’s one of the great places to play. The fans are amazing, they always fill the stadium and make it exciting. It’s a great experience, it was crazy on the floating court in the bay of Acapulco on Saturday, I had never done it before, but I had a lot of fun as did Holger, great view.”

–Frances Tiafoe–

“People are very passionate in Mexico. They wait very eagerly to want a Mexican in the Top 100 in the world, they try to help me but there are others who get confused and pressured, I try not to let it affect me and see it as motivation. I feel more prepared, I have improved a lot physically, mentally and tennis has been my forte. I feel good. I will go out to give it all, try to give my best version and for the shots I have to go”.

–Rodrigo Pacheco-

Mexicans are out in the qualy; tomorrow the four tickets for the main draw of the AMT 2025 will be disputed

Written by Abierto Mexicano de Tenis on . Posted in News.

  • Alan Magadan and Rafael de Alba fell in the first round of qualifying. 
  • Italian Mattia Bellucci (No.70) is one of the favorites to advance to the main draw of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC.

Acapulco, February 22, 2025.- Mexican tennis player Alan Magadan, originally from Zacatecas, was knocked out of the qualifying round of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC, after falling 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to American Aleksandar Kovacevic (No. 77), who will fight tomorrow to be in the main draw. 

Magadan had a good second set taking advantage of his good play from the back of the court, but in the third set, Kovacevic’s serve ended up eliminating him from the tournament. The New Yorker registered six aces for only one of the Mexican.

In other results, American Learner Tien (No.80) defeated Argentine Federico Agustin Gomez (No. 136) by 6-1, 6-3, while Serbian Dusan Lajovic (No.83) did the same against Uzbek Dmitry Popko (No.206) by 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. Tomorrow, Tien and Lajovic will face each other for a place in the main draw of the tournament.

The second ticket to the draw will be defined between American Aleksandar Kovacevic and Australian Adam Walton (No. 90), who defeated Frenchman Adrian Mannarino (No.128), 6-4, 6-0. Meanwhile, the third ticket to the main draw of the tournament will be disputed by Americans Stefan Kozlov (No. 360) and Nishesh Basavareddy (No. 106), after they defeated Portuguese Duarte Vale and Australian James Duckworth, respectively.

The fourth ticket to the main draw will be fought by Italian Mattia Belucci (No. 70) after beating American Christopher Eubanks 6-2, 6-4, and his opponent will be Canadian Gabriel Diallo (No. 88), who defeated Mexican Rafael Alonso de Alba Valdes (No. 1323) 6-1, 6-1.

TENNIS TALKS! CASPER RUUD, TOMMY PAUL AND MEXICAN DIVER ALEJANDRA OROZCO

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  • A new edition of Tennis Talks! premiered with Casper Ruud, Tommy Paul and Mexican diver Alejandra Orozco as the protagonists of an in-depth talk to learn all about their life and preparation.

Acapulco, Guerrero, February 22, 2025.- The Tennis Talks! concept has become a tradition within the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC, and returns in the XXXII edition to offer fans the opportunity to learn details about the personal lives of athletes, anecdotes and secrets about their development in the sport.

Hosted by journalist Rebeca Landa and inside the GNP Seguros Arena complex, in front of dozens of children and young people who practice the sport, as well as fans attending the first day of qualy, the Norwegian Casper Ruud was in charge of opening the conversation by recalling what it was like to face Rafael Nadal in a Roland Garros final.

“I didn’t handle it as well as I wanted to, but I did what I could. That was a great year, with great finals. Losing to Rafa was nothing to be ashamed of,” said Ruud. 

Pedro Clar, tennis player and part of his coaching team, accompanied him in the talk and recalled how he lived that final after growing up with Rafa, both from Mallorca. 

“It was a very special but difficult moment for me as I grew up with him. I talked to him and his team about the emotional issue and he told me that we were all professionals and we had to give the maximum. It was a success for the Academy,” he said. 

The world No. 5 also shared what it was like to surpass the ranking that his father, who was a professional tennis player, reached. 

“When I broke his record it was a great moment for me, but also for him because he is my coach and from there we went in the same direction and everything I achieve is part of his success,” he exposed. 

“Thank you all for coming, I will give my best during the week and if I reach the final again I promise to speak in Spanish,” added Ruud before answering several questions from the audience with various tips for concentration and to enjoy his profession.

Then it was the turn of a chat with World No. 9 Tommy Paul, who revealed details of what it was like to win bronze in Paris 2024.

“Every time I can go to represent my country I will, nothing can compare to the Olympics. We played great tennis that week, we lost in the semifinals but we grew together. Fritz can be stubborn and we just tell him we will do what he wants and that works,” he said. 

He also highlighted the importance of the friendship with Taylor Fritz and other compatriots like Reilly Opelka as they grew up and developed together, after he was shown a photo of him as a teenager with them.

The American made his debut inside the Top 10 this 2025 and mentioned: “It was a dream, I’m happy. Now I’m focused on a new goal, I want to be Top 5, I want to win a Masters 1000”.

He also shared that Super Bowl week was big for him as a loyal Philadelphia Eagles fan and that attending the conference final is the best sporting event he has ever been to. 

The third and final talk came from Mexican diver Alejandra Orozco, the first non-tennis athlete at Tennis Talks! 

“We also train a lifetime for a moment that defines everything, that’s how sport is and there is a lot to learn from each other. I came to the sport by chance, in my family no one practiced, we think we have to have it in our blood and it is not so,” she said. 

The double Olympic medalist shared all the details of her development and 20 years into her career, she assures that she has no regrets. She showed off her medals in front of the lucky people present at sunset on the first day of activities at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC.

THE DRAW OF THE XXXII EDITION OF THE AMT 2025 IS DEFINED

Written by Abierto Mexicano de Tenis on . Posted in News.

  • Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud, top seeds, will face Italian Matteo Arnaldi and Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, respectively.
  • Tommy Paul and Holger Rune will face a qualifier and Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena.
  • Mexican Rodrigo Pacheco will open against Australian Aleksandar Vukic.

Acapulco, February 22, 2025.- In a ceremony headed by Alvaro Falla, director of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC, and the British Cameron Norrie, the draw for the main draw of the XXXII edition of the ATP 500 in Acapulco was held.

Top seeds Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, Tommy Paul and Holger Rune have already defined the opponents they will face in the first round of the ATP 500 in Acapulco.

The path of the world No. 2 and first qualifier of the tournament starts with the challenge of facing Italian Matteo Arnaldi for the first time. In the same bracket is 2022 finalist Cameron Norrie, current No. 59, who entered the main draw via wildcard. He will face Canadian Denis Shapovalov. “It’s a complicated draw especially at the top, Denis comes from winning Dallas, but there are good matches,” he noted.

In search of a repeat final this year, Norwegian Casper Ruud, No. 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings, was drawn against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech (No. 63) and in the same draw as Mexican 19-year-old Rodrigo Pacheco, he will face Australian Aleksandar Vukic.

The third seed, American Tommy Paul (No. 9) will face a player who enters the draw from the qualifiers and if he advances, he could face his compatriot Marcos Giron, who also has his first match against a player from the qualifiers. 

Paul, who debuted this month as a Top 10 player and a finalist in Acapulco in 2023, is in the lower part of the draw as well as American Frances Tiafoe (No. 18) who will face Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Denmark’s Holger Rune (No. 12) is in the upper part of the draw and will face Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena. 

While the first round match between Ben Shelton (No. 13) and Italy’s Flavio Cobolli (No. 40) caught the attention of those present at the draw ceremony, as they are two young talents. The winner will face the advancing player between Belgium’s David Goffin and Australia’s Rinky Hijikata.

Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti had luck on his side as he will also face a qualifier in the first round, while another promising match-up is that of Germany’s Daniel Altmaier against 25-year-old Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.

AMT 2025 kicks off with qualifiers.

Written by Abierto Mexicano de Tenis on . Posted in News, Sin categoría.

  • Rinky Hijikata, USA’s Learner Tien and France’s Adrian Mannarino will be looking for to the main draw
  • Rafael de Alba and Alan Magadan are the Mexican players in the qualifying tournament

Acapulco, February 22, 2025.- The XXXII edition of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC, which will be played from February 24 to March 1 in Acapulco, will begin its the start of the qualifying tournament, which will award four tickets to the main draw.

Among the players who will be looking to get one of the tickets to the main draw are the Italian Mattia Bellucci (1), the American Aleksandar Kovacevic (2), the Australian Rinky Hijikata (2), the American Learner Tien (4), as well as the Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.

Bellucci is ranked 70th in the PIF ATP Rankings, Kovacevic (No. 77), Hijikata (No. 78) and American Tien (No. 80), in addition to Frenchman Adrian Mannarino who is looking for points to return to the Top 100.

Also in the qualifiers are Serbian Dusan Lajovic (5), Canadian Gabriel Diallo (6) and Canadian Gabriel Diallo (6).

This Saturday, 10 matches will be played, 8 singles and two doubles, with the Mexicans Rafael de Alba and Alan Magadán trying to pull off a surprise.

Magadan will face Kovacevic and De Alba will face Canadian Gabriel Diallo, 88th in the world.

In doubles, Mexico’s Magadán will team up with Portugal’s Tomás Pinho to face the face Americans Christian Harriso and Evan King.

Another Mexican, Rodrigo Pacheco, who will play in the singles main draw, will join Argentine Federico Gomez to face France’s Arthur Rinderknech and the American Marcos Giron.

The Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC features seven players in the Too 20 PIF ATP Rankings.

Saturday 22nd

Matches of the first day of qualifying

(1) Mattia Bellucci (ITA) – Christopher Eubanks (USA)

(2) Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA) – Alan Magadan (MEX)

(3) Rinky Hijikata (AUS) – Stefan Kozlov (USA)

(4) Learner Tien (USA) – Federico Agustín Gómez (ARG)

(5) Dusan Lajovic (SRB) – Dmitri Popkó (KAZ)

(6) Gabriel Diallo (CAN) – Rodrigo de Alba (MEX)

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