Acapulco, Guerrero, February 28.- With some troubles, Sloane Stephens, first seed of Abierto Mexicano Telcel, presented by HSBC, got a ticket to the quarterfinals, when she came back in the match against Arantxa Rus, 5 -7- 7-6 (6) and 6-0.
Stephens, champion in 2016 edition, was surprised by Rus that despite coming from qualifying, she was confident and took advantage of the match.
Stephens seemed uncomfortable on the court, but at the beginning of second set she broke Rus’s serve, but the advantage was momentary, as the Dutch recovered the break in the third game and turned the score board around in the fifth
During that break the Stephens coach came on the court to give her instructions, trying to get a reaction.
The body language of both players at that time was totally different. Stephens looked discouraged, while Arantxa was confident and with a lot of energy.
In the next game Stephens recovered from the break to put the score 3-3.
Stephens will face in the next round Stefanie Voegele, who defeated Maria Sakkari by 6-3 and 6-4.
Voegele left out Tatjana Maria, the eighth favorite, a day earlier and will try to give a turn to Sloane.

Acapulco, Guerrero, February 28, 2018. Renata Zarazúa one of the locals, fell in Second Round, in two7-5 and 6-3, against Daria Gavrilova, in 136 minutes match.

Zarazúa looked nervous in the first points of the matchlosing 4-0 in the first set, but the confidence that the fans gave her gave her balanced the score 4-4, thanks to which forced Daria commit forced errors, but it ended 7-5in favour of the Australian.

After falling in the first set, Renata let Daria continue with her game, until she reacted convinced that she could take control in the seventh game, but it was not enough.

“I feel sad because I lost, but it was a great experience to play with a full stadium and face a top 30. I started nervous, very slow and she did not miss much in the first games”, said the player.

Previously, Renata, 20, won over Kristina Pliskova in the first round, while Gavrilova eliminated Madison Brengle.

For the first time since 2007, there was a local in the second round.

Now, Gavrilova, will face Veronica Cepede Royg, who won over the Romanian Irina Camelia Begu, by 7-6 and 6-1, in 105 minutes of play.

Lesia Tsurenko, seventh seed of the tournament continues to play as favorite, after defeating Arina Rodionova, 6-3 and 6-1. She is waiting to meet her rival, which will come out of the matc between Beatriz Haddad Maia and Kristina Mladenovic, second seed of the tournament.

Acapulco, Guerrero, February 28 .- Hyeon Chung, semifinalist of the Australian Open, made it clear that his entrance to the top 30 ATP has not been a coincidence. The South Korean is in the quarter finals of Abierto Mexicano Telcel, presented by HSBC, after defeating Ernesto Escobedo by 6-3 and 6-1.

Escobedo came with confidence, after obtaining his first victory against a top ten the day before, eliminating Jack Sock, but Chung dominated the actions since he entered Caliente Grand Stand.

In 2017 Chung came to Acapulco, he was not known yet as the young man who was able to beat Novak Djokovic in a Grand Slam and fell in the first round of the qualifying tournament.

But the experience accumulated during that period and now he stands on the court with great security. The same that made him win the title of the Next Gen Finals with a 5-0 record.

Hyeon was safe at the back of the court and pressed the net only if necessary. Although Escobedo tried, he couldn’t make another surprise, he entered the tournament through the qualification round.

Jared Donaldson left out Matthew Ebden in two, 6-3 and 6-1 in 72 minutes of play.

Nine years older than Donaldson, Ebden had trouble placing his first service.

Donaldson takes a quiet step in the tournament, he advanced to first round after Nikoloz Basilashvili’s retirement.

Acapulco, Guerrero, February 28.- Alejandro Burillo, President of Grupo Pegaso, thanked the Governor, Hector Astudillo Flores, for the support he has offered to the tournament since it got to Acapulco 18 years ago.
“The Burillo Azcárraga family is committed to the State of Guerrero, this is a life project for us, we feel very comfortable here, the idea is still growing within the facilities, we want a second . We want to stay here because we feel like in our house, the people have treated us very well, “said Burillo.
He mentioned that the new stadium will be in Diamente Zone and would have a capacity for 10 thousand people and six alternating fields.
In the celebration of the XXV years of the event, rated as the best in Latin America, Burillo endorsed his commitment to the people of this town, which for 18 years has received with open arms tennis fans.
Renata Burillo, President of Grupo Pegaso, also attended the press conference; Raúl Zurutuza, director of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, presented by HSBC; Ernesto Rodríguez, Secretary of Tourism of the State; Héctor Apresa, Secretary of Finance of the Government, and Alfredo Castillo, director of the National Commission of Physical Culture and Sport.
Hector Astudillo, Governor of Guerrero, recognized the loyalty of Mr. Burillo to maintain this event in the city. “We are on the way of having a new stadium. This is a tournament of the present but also of the future. This is the international event that gives more movement to the name of Acapulco and Mexico, so I think it is important that it is preserved and improved. I reiterate my thanks to the organizers”, he said.
Ernesto Rodríguez, Tourism Secretary mentioned that for the State, this tournament represents, among other things, an economic spill over 700 million pesos, and the mobilization of 20 thousand people daily around the event per day during that week.
“And the most important thing is the extraordinary international promotion that the tournament gives to Guerrero, that promotion is priceless. In addition, the exhibition of Tennis Parade in Mexico City, Convention Center had an unprecedented promotion”, he said, and thanked the Pegaso Group for that dissemination.
Alfredo Castillo, director of Conade, commented that Abierto Mexicano Telcel, presented by HSBC, is one of the three most important in the country, along with the Grand Prix and the Golf Championship and applauded that it is currently located as the best event of the category 500 and that can compete with the Dubai event, which takes place during the same week in the ATP calendar.

Acapulco, Guerrero, February 27, The debut of Alexander Zverev at Abierto Mexicano Telcel, presented by HSBC, was a success. The young German captivated the fans reunited at Pegaso Stadium.

Sascha Zverev faced Mackenzie McDonald winning in two, 6-3 7-5, taking him without a problem to the second round.

“The conditions here are different from other tournaments, it was a good match, I think we both showed a good level. I was able to break in the important moments, during the second set and be more aggressive, that was the key to winning, “explained the winner.

The German showed that when he decides it, his game can be more aggressive, and very acertive. This has led him to be currently in the fifth place in the world ranking and holding six ATP titles, at 20 years of age.

Zverev served 7 times in the match and did not commit any double faults. He also saved the only break point he had against.

The German denied that he now has an easier way to win the championship, before the unexpected withdraw of Rafael Nadal, due to injury. “I’m going game by game, I’m not thinking about that and I know that difficult games await me”, he concluded.

Acapulco, Guerrero, February 27, 2018. Kristina Mladenovic, second seed of Abierto Mexicano Telcel, presented by HSBC advanced without problem to the second round of the tournament, but her compatriot Alizé Cornet, favorite in the tournament did not run with the same luck.

Mladenovic won over Amandine Hesse, by double 6-2 in 70 minutes of play. Hesse entered to the tournament after the qualifying round taking one of the six spots, this allowed them to face each other for the first time.

Hesse finished the game with one ace, two double faults and 54 percent of effectiveness in her first service.

A year ago, Kristina set the record for the longest match of the tournament, 3 hours 32 minutes, defeating Heather Watson, in three 7-6, 6-7 and 7-5.

Mladenovic will now face the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, who won over English Heather Watson, 7-5, 4-6 and 6-1, in 153 minutes of play.

Alizé Cornet, sixth seed of the tournament was surprised by the Rebecca Peterson, who came from the qualification, and won in 89 minutes of play, 6-2 and 6-4.

The 22-year-old, ranked in the 139th WTA, took the Cornet by surprise from the first set, after forcing her to commit forced errors, plus four double faults that cost her the loss.

Cornet was a finalist at Abierto Mexicano in 2008 edition, but on that occasion she lost to Italian Flavia Pennetta.

Finally, the Swiss Jil Teichmann eliminated Jana fett, by 7-5 and 7-5 in 102 minutes.

Fett came to the main draw after the qualification, she was really motivated and it was the first time they faced each other.

Acapulco, Guerrero, February 27, 2018.- Stefanie Voegele won over the eighth seed of Abierto Mexicano Telcel, presented by HSBC, in two sets (6-2, 7-5) she got a ticket to the second round by defeating Tatjana Maria.

The difference in rankings was notorious but this was not a factor on the match.

However, Maria was able to keep her service only twice in the first set, which gave her confidence for the rest of the match. Voegele did not miss the opportunity and closed the match.

In the next round she will face Maria Sakkari, who in turn won over Lara Arruabarrena with a score of 6-3 and 7-6 (1).

Sakkari was very consistent with her first with 70 percent effectiveness. With this result improves the one obtained in 2016 in Acapulco, when he was fired in the first round.

In another match the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia eliminated Heather Watson with a score of 7-5, 4-6 and 6-1, which places her as the rival to Kristina Mladenovic, second seed of the tournament. This was the first confrontation between the two. Maia, 21, and left-handed game, surprised Watson, who had more experience in Acapulco, with four prior participations.

The Brazilian reached the second round of Australian Open this year, where she lost to Karolina Pliskova.

Acapulco, Guerrero, February 27.- Diego Schwartzman keeps his winning streak and won the first round at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, presented by HSBC, against Fernando Verdasco by 6-2, 6-4, in 67 minutes of play at Pegaso Stadium.

It is the second victory of Schwartzman over Verdasco in just three days, as the Argentine won the final of Rio de Janeiro, which both starred last Sunday.

They both arrived in the same conditions, something that helped him, Schwartzman acknowledged.

“Luckily I played well, It was tiered flight, I think I had a bit of luck in the draw, because Fernando and I compete in similar conditions. Fortunately, I was able to play a little better than him and I took advantage of the opportunities I had”, he explained after the game.

Diego started with a break and he took advantage, which he would not lose anymore and that allowed him to handle the match.

With this victory the Argentine put his mark in 11-4 so far this season, and in 1-1 at Abierto Mexicano Telcel, presented by HSBC. “In 2013 I lost in the first round with Rafa (Nadal), it’s a shame that he was gone this time, now he had to be replaced”, he added.

Currently in place 18 of the ranking, Diego must face in the second round, Ryan Harrison, rank 60 and who won over John Isner, eighth seed.

About the match he sai, “he’s been playing well, he pushed Isner, that was a surprise and the next game is going to be very complicated”.

He said that any player always dreams of reaching as far as possible, “but you do not know when that will be or what might happen on the road, as I got better I believed more in myself, I’m doing things well, but I have to work hard to stay here”.

Kokkinakis also advances, he took advantage of the wild card given by the organization and qualified for the second round by winning over Kazakh Alexander Bublik in two, 6-4 6-3 in 68 minutes.

For Kokkinakis, a finalist at Los Cabos tournament last august, who was also invited also, this is his second ATP tour event, last week he was at a Challenger in Morelos, where he reached to the semifinals.

Acapulco, Guerrero, February 2, 2018.- Ernesto Escobedo starred the second surprise of Abierto Mexicano Telcel, presented by HSBC. Neto left out fourth seed, Jack Sock with in two, 7-5 7-6 (3).

86 minutes of a closed match between the players, they faced for the first time in the ATP circuit.

“I really like playing here, feels like home,” said Escobedo, who´s parents are from Zacatecas and was at Los Cabos tournament last August. “I feel very proud to be able to play in this country and very comfortable in these conditions, I think that after this I can face anyone”, said Ernesto.

Escobedo entered the tournament through the qualy and showed that the previous matches helped him adapt. Sock, who received wild card, repeated the result of last year, when he was also left out in the first round of the tournament.

The match was closed, and Escobedo took the best part in the first set, before the bewilderment of a Sock that this year has a record of 1-3 and is ranked as the tenth in the world.

In the next round, Escobedo face Hyeon Chung, semifinalist at Australian Open, who won against Donald Young 7-6 (5) and 6-1 on court 4.

Chung’s first game in Acapulco was a success. The Asian saved 5 out of 8 break points throughout the game and after struggling to keep the first set, he easily defined the second, in which Young could only win one game.

Acapulco, Guerrero, February 27.- Renata Zarazúa’s face was of disbelief. The Mexican seemed a little surprised by what she had just achieved. But it was true, she had a place in the second round of Abierto Mexicano Telcel, presented by HSBC, after eliminating the Czech Kristyna Pliskova in two, 6-3 6-4.

Days before, Renata, told her desire to improve her tennis, and yesterday that work paid off. Seventy-seven minutes were needed to get her ticket to the next round.

“My strategy was to make her play one more ball because yesterday (Monday) I played against her in doubles and I realized that she loses her patience very quickly. I feel very happy that my family is with me, sharin this moment”, said the Mexican.

Grand Satnd Caliente was the place where Renata summoned thousands of fans who pushed her to do her best, she showed security and took Pliskova’s serve early. Pliskova could not find a way to nullify Renata, who remained calmed all the time.

In the second set she remained in focus. Convinced that the match was hers. Zarazúa could not close the game with the 5- 3 advantage she had. At times the nerves showed in her face.

“In the end I got nervous and started making mistakes that I had not done before. This is my biggest victory so far, last year I was eager to compete and win here, this tournament is the most important in my preseason, “said the 20-year-old.