March 2, 2017

Former Acapulco Champion, Dominic Thiem, got overthrown by American Sam Querrey during quarterfinals; sweet revenge for Querrey who lost to Thiem during semifinals last year. Surprising fans at the Pegaso Stadium, Sam overthrew Thiem in a short 66-minute duel with partials 6-1, 7-5.

With 7 aces, 25 out of 28 gained points and 4 breaks Querrey displayed an impeccable game. Thiem (9 ATP) sums 4 quarterfinal rounds in this season: Brisbane, Sydney, Rotterdam and Acapulco where he lost his former title and what could have been his 9^th tittle in his career. 

Querrey had lost to Juan Martín del Potro just a week before in Delray Beach. This no. 40 ATP player’s second victory over a seed during the Acapulco contest, first was David Goffin (5). The San Francisco Giant is may win his first 2017 title and 9^th in his sporting career.  

“I feel good! I’ve played well this week, I played well last year… I like coming back here. I think the court suits my game and hopefully I can keep it up and play well again tomorrow”, spoke Querrey. 

Men’s Doubles-Quarter Finals

Jamie Murray (GB) / Bruno Soares (BRA) 6-1, 6-3  Scott lipsky (USA) / Sam Querrey (USA)

Oliver Marach (AUT) / Fabrice Martin (FRA) 7-5, 6-7 (1), 11-9  Radu Albot (MOL) / Mischa Zverev (ALE)

Philipp Petzschner (ALE) / Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK) 6-4, 6-2  Santiago González (MEX) / David Marrero (ESP)

John Isner (USA) / Feliciano López (ESP)  6-2, 7-5  Raven Klaasen (SUD) / Rajeev Ram (USA)

Women’s doubles-Quarterfinals

Madison Brengle (USA) / Nicole Gibbs (USA) 6-3, 6-2, 10-6 Darija Jurak (CRO) / Anastasia Rodionova (AUS)

Asia Muhammad (USA) / Taylor Townsend (USA) 6-2, 6-3  Danka Kovinic (MONTENEGRO) / Allcja Rosolska (POL)

Verónica Cepede Royg (PAR) / Mariana Duque Mariño (COL) 4-6, 6-4, 10-5  Chia-Jung Chuang (TAI) / Christina McHale (USA)

March 2, 2017

Monica Puig fell victim to Christina McHale (5). McHale became the first player to move on to the next round. The American player finished up with a killer 6-2, 6-2 in the stellar Grand Stand Caliente.mx.

The Olympic Champion from Rio 2017 was attempting to make it to semifinals for the first time en this tournament but made many mistakes that took a toll and made her lose her service four times in each set.

McHale (45 WTA) was much stronger; she had a powerful service and had more speed with her legs. Christina feels confortable in Acapulco, last year she made it to semifinals and made it to the final round in 2014, both times she lost against Dominika Cibulkova.

During the first set Puig gained some points with a low 48% effectiveness and had more problems with the backhand, specially when McHale served (21%).

Mónica tried to adjust her game after losing the first set, she tried to be more aggressive but McHale endured the attack leaving an evidently frustrated Puig.

The fifth game of the second set was fatal for Monica when she broke what seamed a simple game and McHale took advantage of this mistake.

McHale will now face French Kristina Mldenovic -who is evidently in optimal physical shape considering she had played a duel that lasted over three hours the previous night and still managed to edge Kirsten Flipkens in 1:22 hrs 6-4, 6-3. Both Flipkens and Mladenovic achieved less than 60% effective service but it was Kristina that scored points by connecting them.

FYI: This is the second time Mladenovic plays in Acapulco. In 2014 Mladenovic lost to McHale.

March 2, 2017

Day 4 in Acapulco and the top 4 seeds Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Marin Cilic and Dominic Thiem, will battle for a spot to the semifinals in four different quarter-final duels without playing each other. Same is happening with WTA players Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, Kristina Mladenovic, Jelena Ostapenko and Mónica Puig, 

First to battle in the Pegaso stadium is Croatian Marin Cilic against Steve Johnson. The American player is up to his biggest challenge for he has a 2-0 head-2-head in favor of the 8^th ATP player.

Nadal (6 ATP), who remains undefeated in Acapulco will come face to face with Japanese player Yoshihito Nishioka (Q). 

Former champion Dominic Thiem will play Sam Querrey as he did last year and left behind during semifinals. 

Novak Djokovic (2 ATP) and Nick Kyrgios will star in today’s most anticipated match

WTA players order of play

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni vs Pauline Parmentier

Christina Mchale (5) vs Monica Puig

Kristina Mladenovic (2) vs Lesia Tusrenko (7)

March 1, 2017

The Mexico-Spain dupla Santiago González and David Marrero made it to second rounds in doubles at the Acapulco Open, Abierto Mexicano de Tenis Telcel, after coming out victorious third seeded Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo by 7-6 (3), 6-3 in a match that lasted 78 minutes. Gonzalez-Marrero will be measured against Philipp Petzschner and Aisam-Ul-Hag Qureshi in quarterfinals round who defeated Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah 7-5, 7-6(3).

Mexican players Cesar Ramirez and Hans Hach Verdugo failed against American dupla Scott Lipsky and Sam Querrey in a match that lasted a bit longer than an hour (65 minutes) by 6-3, 6-4.

Mexican Luis Patiño and Salvadorian Luis Arevalo that made it to the main draw as lucky losers were surpassed by Rady Albot from Moldavia and Mischa Zverev from Germany 4-6, 6-2, 10-3.

March 2, 2017

The hearts of Mexican followers were divided, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martín del Potro was the best proof that one can have more than one love at a time. The Grand Stadium was filled with equal amounts of cheers supporting either Nole or Delpo. In a night that witnessed a showcase duel, at the end Djokovic was able to snatch the win and advance to quarterfinals 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Nole stood strong in a very demanding duel against an opponent that worked him to the point of exhaustion playing continuous long rallies. Wednesday night gave into Thursday’s early hours and fans were as energetic and excited as the duel itself.

The Serbian player now has a 12-4 H-2-H record against the Argentinian veteran that was able to connect right-handed, deep, shots. The public would celebrate each point as if it was the spectacle’s decisive one, with the score closely shifting from side to side.

The first set was owned by Juan Martin, who ended the partial with an ace, a double-fault and 80% effective first serve. Nole kept focused even after having a break-point against him and he worked hard to balance the scores every time. Djokovic ended the second set with two aces, 56% effective first service and saved four break-points.

The third set kept everyone on edge. Delpo had a triple break point in the seventh game although Djokovic saved the first two with a passing shot from the Argentinian when Novak was attacking on the net he gave the opening for the break. Nevertheless the Serbian was able to make a quick comeback (4-4) and then maintained (5-4). Del Potro struggled to keep up with his opponent but Novak cornered him so he would fault and in his double match point he secured his pass to quarterfinal rounds and will be measured against Australian Nick Kyrgios.

At the end of the match Nole thanked the Mexican audience for their warm support and the crowd answered his thankful gesture with applause and chants just as Delpo did while he exit the court gloomily.

March 1, 2017

An overpowering Rafael Nadal made it to quarterfinals in the Abierto Mexicano de Tenis Telcel after defeating 35-year-old Paolo Lorenzi 6-1 y 6-1 in a 66-minute duel.

This is Nadal’s second play after losing the Australian Open final round against Roger Federer. The player from Mallorca extended his record to a perfect 12-0 and 4-0 (head-to-head) with Lorenzi who has only been able to win one set against him.

Rafa set his mind on quickly finishing the confrontation playing his best with solid right-handed comebacks. “it is evident that I played really good tennis with a high travel rate just like it must be done with a player such as Lorenzi that is one of the top 40. I am glad I’m playing so well” said the 6ATP.

Nadal’s rival in quarterfinals is astounding Yoshihito Nishioka. 21-year-old Nishioka (84 ATP) is living a great moment, working his way from qualies and later defeating Australian Jordan Thompson 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 summing 4 consecutive wins in the Acapulco tournament. This will be the first time the Spaniard and Japanese players face each other

“It will be something new for both of us, so surprises or no surprises we all (the players) know each other’s game here. He (Nishioka) has been playing very well during the whole tournament, he has worked his way up, he has won 4 consecutive matches so he’s feeling confident. He doesn’t make mistakes, therefore I’ll have to be ready and stay focused and with high intensity” expressed Nadal about his rival for this Thursday.

• Goerges retired for Heat Illness
• Tomljanovic retired for Right Shoulder Injury
• Bouchard Flipkens wins by walk over – Goerges wd Heat Illness
• Last match on court 1 has been moved to court 4

March 1, 2017

Sam Querrey ended David Goffin journey in search of the Acapulco title and is now moving to the next round. Querrey found no rival in the no. 5 seed Goffin in a match that lasted 1:09 hrs with partials 6-2, 6-3 in the Grand Stand in the tropical city of Acapulco. Last year Querrey fell before former champion Dominic Thiem during the semifinal rounds.

Goffin’s fall was unexpected after having played finals in Sophia and Rotterdam while Querrey only made it to quarterfinals in Delray Beach. Three years ago David left Acapulco’s tournament during the same round as this year but that time around he fought in the qualifying rounds for a spot on the main draw. Goffin wasn’t able to control the American player’s strong service scoring only four out of 27 points of Querrey’s service who finished the encounter with seven aces and five double faults. Goffin scored one direct serve and four double-faults.

Kyrgios Advances

In a duel that took place in Court no. 2 of the Acapulco facilities, Aussie player Nick Kyrgios (now sixth seeded) left out five out of 9 American contenders. Kyrgios edged Donald Young with partials 6-2, 6-4 during his first Acapulco contest and first ever confrontation with Young. Donald asked for medical assistance during the eighth game of the first set and kept going with no further complications after de physician applied a bandage on his left knee. The 21-year-old Australian player has a tough quarter-final test against the winner of world No2 Novak Djokovic’s clash with Argentina veteran Juan Martin del Potro.

“I’m looking forward to any of them, honestly,” Kyrgios said post-match. “I think my top-10 record’s pretty good. I think I play well against the top-10 players.” spoke a confident Nick.

March 1, 2017

The best match of day two of the Acapulco Open is hands down the one starred by Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro and American Frances Tiafoe. The Grand Stand fired up after a brilliant, heart-racing, tight, triumph.

The Rio runner-up locked his pass after a tie-break against (very promising) 19-year-old NextGen ATP player Tiafoe. The Delpo-Tiafoe scores concluded in sets 6-4, 3-6 and 7-6(1) locking a Delpo-Nole clash showdown for the next round. 

The young promise seemed to have enough drive to claim the last set, he even got very close to breaking the Argentinian’s serve but wasn’t able to when Delpo connected nine direct serves with a 78% effectiveness. Frances (89 ATP) played an aggressive and strong game with a killer right-handed service but at the end the player gave in to stress and Delpo took advantage of this.

A big surprise was to see no. 7 seed cut short, American player Jack Sock failed against Japanese qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka (86 ATP). 21-year-old Nishioka secured his ticket to the next round in less than two hour match with sets 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Sixth seeded Nick Kyrgios (17 ATP) overcame Israeli player Dudi Sela in a three set match with a final score 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 and will face American player Donald Young for the first time in his gaming career. Kyrgios has had a tough opening ATP season with only four out of six victories and is looking forward to improve his season by adding the Acapulco title to his collection: Tokyo, Atlanta and Marseille. 

Meanwhile Sam Querrey worked hard to overthrow Kyle Edmund 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 and will face no. 5 seed David Goffin in the next phase.

February 28, 2017

Dominic Thiem delivered to his followers last night in a packed to full capacity Grand Stand. The victorious no. 4 seed player overcame Frenchman Gilles Simon after a tight game 7-6(7) 6-3.

Thieminho just crowned himself in Rio de Janeiro’s tournament working on clay surface, unlike Acapulco’s hard-court. “It was a good game although I did recent the change in surface” he noted. After battling a tight tie-break during the first set the world 9^th ATP player found his confidence and performed an astounding 98% effective first serve and saved a break-point.

“There was a great energy, I wish to keep playing on there”, spoke Dominic about playing on the main court, the Caliente.mx Grand Stand, “it feels good to play in the second round but I know it won’t be easy, I need to focus, I have played Mannarino on a hard court twice before and were tough three set games (Paris Masters and Miami 2015), he’s a challenging left-hander”, the Austrian player also said he is willing to fight hard to maintain his current Acapulco title.

 Sam Querrey, as well as Thiem, had to work hard to edge over Kyle Edmund and will play number 5 seed David Goffin next.