• The seventh edition of the Mifel Tennis Open will take place between July 31 and August 5 in Los Cabos, BCS.
• The Greek No. 3 and the Briton, finalist in 2022 and current No. 12, are the first confirmed players.
• Tickets on sale now.

Acapulco, March 1st.- The Mifel Tennis Open announced that the 7th edition of the tournament, which will be held from July 31st to August 5th, 2023, will feature two star players, the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 3) and the British Cameron Norrie, champion in 2021 and finalist in 2022.

“With great enthusiasm we announce the return of Tsitsipas to Mexico, to Los Cabos, Stefanos is a player who has shown consistency and has remained within the Top-10 we are excited to have him back and also Cameron Norrie, who has had a brilliant performance in the last two editions,” informed José Antonio Fernández, tournament director.

“Every year we have been making the effort to bring better players as we seek to position the tournament as one of the best in the ATP 250 category,” he added.

The 24-year-old Greek has had a special connection with the Mexican fans that has received him well in Acapulco and so far having nine titles in his career that began in 2016. In 2022 he won the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 and the Mallorca tournament titles.

Norrie, meanwhile, remains close to the Top 10 and just last Sunday won the Rio de Janeiro ATP 500 against Spaniard Carlos Alcaráz (No. 2).

The Briton has a great connection with Mexico and the local public. Lifted his first title in Los Cabos in 2021 and later won the Indian Wells Masters 1000, the most important victory of his career, and in 2022 he reached the final of the Acapulco Open 500, which he lost to Spaniard Rafael Nadal.

This year, the Mifel Tennis Open will celebrate its third edition at the Cabo Sports Complex (CSC), inaugurated in 2021, a multifunctional venue to host sports and entertainment events in an open space.

“The facilities are improving every year and the venue is ready to receive more than 30,000 people during the week of the tournament and we will also have the host hotel up and running for the tournament,” said Fernández.

This year the players, will be staying at the Solaz Resort Los Cabos, which is only 250 meters away from the CSC, allowing them to save time in transfers and practically walk to the courts.

The CSC, is built on more than 4 hectares of land, has a stadium with a capacity for 3,500 fans, a Grandstand for 1,500 people and three courts that can be adapted to receive up to 800 spectators. There is also a special area for players.

The ATP 250 Los Cabos will have a main singles draw of 28 players and 16 players in doubles, with winning prizes of up to $852,840 USD.

The Tournament, one of the most important of its category, was inaugurated in 2016 with Croatian Ivo Karlovic as the first champion, followed by American (US) Sam Querrey (2017), Italian Fabio Fognini (2018) and Argentine Diego Schwartzman (2019), while in 2020 it was not played due to the pandemic.

In 2021, it was won by Norrie and in 2022 won by the Russian Daniil Medvedev, who came to the tournament as ATP number 1. In doubles, the titles of the Mexicans Miguel Ángel Reyes Varela together with the Salvadoran Marcelo Arévalo in 2018 and Hans Hach Verdugo together with John Isner in 2021 stand out.

Tickets for the seventh edition are already on sale.

• After his breakthrough at last year’s US Open, Frances wants to repeat his rise in 2023.

Acapulco, March 1 – Frances Tiafoe’s arrival in the semifinals of the US Open 2022 was an explosion that shook the tennis world. On his way, he defeated four-time U.S. Open champion Rafael Nadal and thus became the first American to reach that stage since Andy Roddick in 2006.

The spotlight was immediately on him.

French came to professional tennis in 2015 and two years later, at the beginning of 2017 he was already among the top 100 of the ATP, then came five years of ascent, a period in which he lifted the title of the Delray Beach tournament in 2018, and then his amazing performance at the US Open.

Now, he is ranked in the top 20, 15th to be exact although his best ranking was reached at the beginning of last February when he reached 14th place, just 4 disputed and difficult places away from the Top-10 a zone to which Tiafoe aspires to reach.

This week, the player, whose parents came to the United States from Sierra Leone in 1996, was born on January 20, 1998, is enjoying his time at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC, where he has already reached the quarterfinals.

“I think I’m coming to Acapulco at my best. I’m super excited to play and to be here and try to compete,” said Tiafoe in statements to the organization that celebrates the XXX edition of the tournament.

• The Dane eliminated Nuno Borges with a convincing performance and meets Matteo Berrettini in the quarterfinals.

Acapulco, March 2nd – Holger Rune was left with no surprises. The Dane avoided problems to convincingly defeat Portugal’s Nuno Borges 6-0, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC.

Rune came out determined to give a strike of authority and showed that he can be the favorite for the title in Acapulco. Borges, who came to the tournament after winning the Monterrey Challenger, had to deal with the fatigue of the past weeks and with an opponent in a state of grace showing an impeccable game.

It took the Dane one hour to get the victory, product of a first set in which he only lost 10 points to get on his way to the victory. Borges never felt comfortable on the court and could only win a couple of games in the second set.

By reaching the quarterfinals of the tournament, Rune is one win away from being able to continue climbing up the ATP rankings. If he can advance to the semifinals, he would displace Felix Auger-Aliassime as the world number 9.

The Dane’s opponent will be Matteo Berrettini. The two met in Indian Wells last season, with the Italian winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, although it´s clear that much has changed since then.

• Taylor did not have many complications to overcome Shapovalov and in the quarterfinals, Fritz will face Frances Tiafoe.

Acapulco, March 1st – While the Mexican fans at the GNP Seguros Arena, the new home of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC were rubbing their hands in anticipation of a long match between North Americans, Taylor Fritz had other plans. The American took advantage of a disconnected version of Canadian Denis Shapovalov to eliminate him in straight sets.

The Canadian’s start was promising, losing only one of his first nine points on serve. However, after Fritz’s first break came, Shapovalov faded on the court.

Taylor, however remained always focused on the match. During the whole night he only lost one point with his first serve and was decisive from the back of the court.

Fritz’s only slip came when he served for the match the first time. Shapovalov tried to buy himself more time, took advantage of a couple of Taylor’s errors and managed to get a break before going down.

In the end, Fritz sealed a double 6-4 and qualified to the quarterfinals of the Acapulco Open 500 where he seeks the title after falling just short in the 2020 season. In the quarterfinals he will face his compatriot Frances Tiafoe, whom he has defeated the last five times they played each other. 

Tiafoe overcame Spaniard Feliciano López to advance.

• The Japanese qualifier scores one of the biggest wins of his career.
• Casper Ruud still can’t get past a second round this season

Acapulco, March 1st – Japan’s Taro Daniel scored his first victory against a Top 10 player by surprisingly defeating second-seeded Norwegian Casper Ruud 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(5) after almost three hours of play in the second round of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC.

Ruud had taken an early lead in the first set, 3-0, but then errors began to creep in. Daniel regained the break and when Casper was serving to secure the tiebreak, the Japanese broke to secure the first set.

The Norwegian seemed to adjust what was necessary to return to his best version. He never gave up his serve again and broke Daniel on a couple of occasions to send the match to a definitive third set, just like his first round match against Argentina’s Guido Andreozzi.

In the third set, the match went to a tiebreaker, although Taro Daniel had to save two match points with his serve. Ruud could not capitalize the options he generated in the return and kept the Japanese alive with his errors.

The final tiebreak was similar to the set that preceded it, as there were no mini breaks until it was Ruud’s turn to save a match point. With a new error, he left the ball in the net, handing the victory to a fierce and dreamy Taro Daniel.

The Japanese player arrived in Acapulco to play in the qualifying round, and now he will have the opportunity to reach the semifinals of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC. Taro Daniel’s opponent in the quarterfinals will be Alex De Minaur, who eliminated Jacopo Berrettini.

• The Spaniard was defeated by Frances Tiafoe and thus said goodbye to the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC.

Acapulco, March 1st – A farewell announced the beginning of Feliciano López’s farewell tour as a professional player suffered its first setback after the Spaniard was defeated in the second round of the Acapulco Open 500 by American (US) Frances Tiafoe (No. 15), who won 6-2, 7-6 (6).

Ninety minutes of match were necessary for the American, who this year arrived with his best level in Acapulco, to defeat the still doubles champion in what was his last participation in the Mexican tournament. Last year, Feliciano López announced his upcoming retirement at the age of 41, so a quick stop at one of his favorite events throughout the season was a must.

“It was an exciting match, I had a bad start but I really enjoyed the second set, I think I was close to turn it around and go to a third set. The atmosphere was spectacular from the first minute, the crowd was great, the court was full from the moment we entered. That’s what we play tennis for, so they keep a memory of that day when they watch a certain match,” he began by saying in his last press conference in Mexico after the defeat.

“I feel very fortunate to have been able to experience everything that has happened here since I arrived, it’s the best way to say goodbye playing against the best in the world and being competitive, enjoying it. At times I played at a good level against a player who is one of the best in the world today. I hadn’t played at this level for a long time. I was uncertain about how my body and my tennis would respond, but the feelings good,” added the Spaniard.

As one of the most consistent tennis players every year in Acapulco, Feliciano López has been able to witness every detail of the growth of the ATP 500 tournament and about the XXX anniversary he confessed why it´s the best tournament in Latin America.

 “The biggest example is the stadium we are in, it wouldn’t have happened without 30 years of work. The change of surface in my opinion, gave it a plus to be able to have the tournament they have today. It´s the best tournament of the Latin American tour by far, that is the reality. They are the best in the world. I am lucky enough to work in a tournament as well and I know how difficult it is, that’s why every year they have the tournament they have, everybody wants to be here”, he declared.

Regarding his best memories in Mexican territory he assures that the hospitality of the Mexicans was key for him to come back every year. “The personal lesson is the hospitality of the people in Mexico, I can say that they are the most affectionate people, at least with the Spaniards. The treatment is exceptional in every way, that’s why I like this country so much and so many things. On the sporting side I have great memories, maybe winning last year with Stefanos, we had a great week.”

Feliciano also shares what are his plans for a future, after tennis. “My life changed since my son was born two years ago, like any family. I’ve been able to travel, continue playing together with him and my wife. It has been a nice stage to see your son in the stands applauding, I feel lucky. I will have more time to dedicate to the Madrid tournament. I hope to continue playing tennis at senior level, it has been my passion, I love it, I’m going to miss it, but thank God I´ve had a very nice life” he concluded.

• The American debuted thi s week as number 5 in the ATP ranking, his best ranking so far.

Acapulco, February 28th – To name the last U.S. player to be No. 1 in the ATP rankings one must go back to November 2003, almost 20 years ago now, when in November 2003 Andy Roddick reached the summit of tennis.

Roddick’s stay was for a mere 13 weeks, until February 2004 when Swiss Roger Federer broke through and stayed for four and a half years, a total of 237 weeks.
Before Roddick, his compatriots Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras dominated tennis and previously not as many years went by without the United States having the best tennis player in the world.

But things have changed and now the goal seems within reach of the most advantaged, Taylor Fritz, who at 25 is the highest ranked among a group of 14 U.S. players in the Top-100. “This season my goals are to be in the Top 5, also reach a Grand Slam final,” said Fritz in an interview with the organization.
Without any pressure to achieve it, but to improve, Fritz said that “maybe I see the ranking too much and every time you go up (positions) it always feels good, I hope I have good results this year,” he added.

For now, in the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC, Fritz gave a strike of authority in the first day of the tournament on Monday by eliminating his compatriot, the veteran John Isner, and this Wednesday he will face Denis Shapovalov, from Canada, for the quarterfinals.

In addition to Fritz, 10 players entered the main draw of the Acapulco Open 500 from the United States: Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Mackenzie McDonald, Brandon Nakashima, Marcos Giron, Michael Mmoh, John Isner, Christopher Eubanks, Nick Chappell, Ben Shelton and J.J. Wolf.

On the matter spoke Giron, who had to be eliminated in the first round with Michael Mmoh
“A lot of us looked up to Pete Sampras, Agassi and that golden generation, and I knew I was too young to understand that. That’s when I started to get interested in tennis. Also with Roddick and James Blake, they are all very inspiring. But I also think we are all very competitive,” Giron said.

The No. 69 ATP player noted that the United States is a very big country “so there are a lot of players and a lot of people who play tennis. For me it’s really exciting to see so many guys week in and week out doing well and it’s great to see them play.”

He highlighted the progress at the Australian Open by Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz “made it to the quarterfinals at a high level and I think we’re really getting there, hopefully the guys who are pushing will continue to support each other and yeah, I think we’re all excited for this year.”