• The Italian wanted no surprises in his second match at the AMT 2023.
• F. Tiafoe (No. 15), T. Paul (No. 23), A. de Minaur (No. 22) and M. McDonald (No. 62) also advance.

Acapulco, March 1st – The third day of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC saw some surprises in the singles draw with the departure of Norwegian Casper Ruud, top seed after the withdrawals of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Carlos Alcaráz.

However, to the delight of the fans, most of the favorites advanced, including Italian Matteo Berrettini, who has won the affection of the Mexican public for his charisma. The current No. 24 stopped Swedish, Elias Ymer in one hour 36 minutes with a 6-3 double split and will now face Top 10 Holger Rune, another favorite who is still alive.

“I liked the conditions since last year, it’s not bad here. I’ve played two solid matches after so long without playing. I trained hard the last month. My game is working well, I’m happy with my level, we reached the most important part of the tournament,” said the Italian.

On the other hand, three representatives from the United States also reached the quarterfinals. Frances Tiafoe dismissed Feliciano López from Acapulco and confirmed that he´s at his best level in his visit to Mexico. Later Tommy Paul (No. 23) advanced after the retirement of Michael Mmoh, whom he was beating 6-4, 2-2.

The Australian Open semifinalist will now face another talent under the American flag as Mackenzie McDonald (No. 62), who in turn surprised B. Nakashima 6-2, 6-0.

Finally, the dream of Matteo’s younger brother Jacopo Berrettini came to an end after falling to Alex de Minaur (No. 22) 6-1, 6-0.

• The 41-year-old Spaniard bids farewell to Acapulco, one of his favorite tournaments.

Acapulco, March 1st – Feliciano López has been one of the most consistent tennis players over the last decade at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC. That consistancy and his love for Mexico and the tournament have allowed him to say goodbye as a professional player this 2023, an announcement he made last december and precisely,this news and last participation, gives a nostalgic touch to the XXX edition.

“I am happy to be here for another year. I still can compete, I have prepared myself to say goodbye as I always wanted, beyond winning or losing. You have to cope with the sadness of not having to chase that yellow ball around the world anymore… I played my last Wimbledon and when it was over I had the feeling that it was time, that my moment had come, that I had enjoyed a lot, specially the last few years, because many beautiful things happened to me that I did not expect” shared from Acapulco the current doubles champion.

Unfortunately his partner in the Mexican ATP 500, Stefanos Tsitsipas, got injured before the tournament and Feliciano could not find another partner to defend the title. He totaled six in doubles over a two-decade career and seven in singles. “The only fear I had… well, I’m still afraid because when you’ve been doing something for 20 years, you’re always afraid of what comes next. That happens to a lot of players and athletes, they’re afraid to retire because they don’t know what’s going to happen after tennis. In the end we have been doing this all our lives. For as long as I can remember I’ve had a racket in my hand, traveling all over the world,” he added at the beginning of his farewell tour.

A professional since 1997, the Spaniard reached No. 12 in 2017 at the age of 35 and for the same reason he defends veteran tennis players.

“The decision was made by me, it’s a conversation that arose with my closest environment, they asked me when? At first I was a little annoyed by the question. The last 10 years I have been asked, over and over again,but things were going well. The tennis players of another era, from the age of 30 is usually an age where they used to retire for one reason or another, now we see that careers are much longer, some play well at their 40’s. From the age of 30 onwards everyone starts to retire, and you listen to all the excuses ; Hey ‘leave me alone, I’m fine, I’m doing what I like’. I’ve always taken it differently, I play for a year and think about the future. I’ve been very lucky, I haven’t had any injuries, it’s been a wonderful last stage”.

Feliciano will face today in the second round of the Acapulco Open 500 the American(US) Frances Tiafoe, an opponent who is on the rise.

• The young Mexican shared his experience competing at the Arena GNP Seguros in his first match at a ATP 500 level.
• Pacheco accepted that the crowd helped him but it was also a huge pressing factor during his match.

Acapulco, February 28th – The desire to see a Mexican in the second round of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC will still have to wait. Rodrigo Pacheco lost to Alex De Minaur in the first round and after the duel he shared how he lived one of the most important nights of his career so far.

“When I entered the court it was very nice, it was incredible, I felt a nice and beautiful energy, such a great emotion and huge adrenaline when everyone was cheering for me. The fans were very nice today, they applauded me so much and showed me how much they loved me. In the end, things didn’t work out, but I’ll keep all the good things from the match,” said Pacheco.

Rodrigo recalled that last season he had an invitation to the qualifying round and that in the Los Cabos Open he made his debut in the ATP Tour. However, he considers his match against Alex De Minaur to have been the best of those three experiences so far.

“Today I played much better than last year and than in Los Cabos (…) I had never played in a stadium as big as this one and even less with this much crowd. The truth is that it could have worked against me a little bit (…) At my young age, sometimes I don’t know how to turn that into something positive, how to relax”, accepted the Mexican.

Regarding his level, Pacheco acknowledged that he faced one of the best players in the world and despite the score, he felt competitive during the match. He also recalled that he is still one of the best juniors in the world and that he hopes to be able to transfer that to the professional circuit at some point.

“Emotions got the best of me, I put a little more pressure on myself than I should have (…) I did get very nervous more than anything because I wanted to give a great performance to the whole crowd. Sometimes I worry a lot about things I shouldn’t worry about and I put huge pressure on myself. I thank all the public for the cheers and for giving me that great match because they helped me but sometimes I just backfires on myself for the same reasons,” Rodrigo finished.

Pacheco said that for this year he will try to stay in the junior tournaments but he will also continue to play in the Challenger circuit to keep collecting more ATP points. Surely his next experience at a ATP level will come again at Los Cabos Open.

• The top seeds in doubles advance to the second round.

Mexico’s Miguel Reyes-Varela and Hans Hach Verdugo were defeated 7-6(5), 6-3 by the British pair of Neal Skupski and Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands, the top seeds of the AMT 2023 doubles tournament.

It was a good challenge for the favorites as the Mexicans handed out their defeat by taking the first set to a tiebreak in which they failed at the crucial moment, in the last two points. The second set was also for the winners side

On the other hand, the duo formed by the Salvadoran Marcelo Arévalo and the Dutch Jean-Julien Rojer, second seeds, were beaten by the Brazilian Rafael Matos and the Spaniard David Vega Hernández by a score of 6-2, 3-6, 10-2.

Meanwhile, fourth seeded Jamie Murray of Great Britain and Michael Venus of New Zealand were eliminated by Austrians Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler by scores of 6-3, 6-7(7), 11-9.On Wednesday, Mexican Santiago González and Frenchman Eduard Roger-Vesselin will face Americans (US) Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow and Colombians Robert Farah and Juan Sebastian Cabal, third seeds, will face Americans (US) Mackenzie McDonald and Ben Shellton.

• Matteo Berrettini sealed the deal to the second round after his opponent withdrew from the match
• His brother Jacopo also advanced in his singles debut Acapulco

Acapulco, February 28th – Italian Matteo Berrettini is one of the stars of the XXX edition of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC , advancing to the second round with a dominant first set in his return to an official match since the Australian Open.

His opponent, Slovakian Alex Molcan (No.57), had to retire in the second set due to an injury, so the match was decided 6-0, 2-1 in 45 minutes.  Despite the situation, Matteo Berrettini had a good feeling.

 “I didn’t expect to start the match so well. The last match I played was in Australia against Murray. I trained very hard. With my team we did a good job but you never know. In the end what you need are real matches. I think I played well. I’m very happy with my level, very much looking forward to play the next match” he shared after his debut.

“It’s a very tough sport, for a player who has my body size is very difficult to manage. I’m not in a hurry to play several tournaments, just playing is the most important thing for the moment and playing well and also for my mental health which is the most important thing of all” added the World No. 24 in press conference.

The Italian gave his opinion on the recent withdrawals of Carlos Alcaraz and Cameron Norrie “they are two players who have played very well in recent weeks, one has won Buenos Aires and the other in Rio, of coursemuch is different, in the end I know very well that it´s difficult to manage your body when you play a lot. Last year I came from Rio and I got injured here, Carlos got injured there. My idea when I came here was winning the tournament, if I have to play against Carlos or Norrie or my next opponent, my goal is the same. When you enter the court you have to win.”

On the other hand, his brother Jacopo made his debut in an ATP tournament main draw against Oscar Otte. The match was going evenly with one set each, even with a tie break in the second, however for the third the German had to retire due to an injury. 

“It’s hard not to think about what I went through to get here. My brother was the person who told me that I had to try to play tennis again, because I stopped when I was four years old, I didn’t like it, when I was eight he told me ‘you have to come back because you are going to enjoy this sport a lot’. Having him here has a huge impact on me. The First match for Jacopo in the main draw of a tournament. The opportunity given to me and my family, I am very happy,” said the eldest of the two.

Later the brothers made their debut playing as a couple in the doubles tournament in Acapulco.

• Many kids fulfilled their dream of playing alongside a few professional tennis players in the AMT 2023

Acapulco, February 26th – The traditional Kids Day, (the activity that promotes the integration of children with the sport), took off this Sunday at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC 2023, celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The Kids Day, is an opportunity for many children attending the tournament to get closer to their favorite stars playing in Acapulco, the players give them advice, gifts, play along and share their training sessions.
During the activities that marked the first day at the GNP Seguros Arena complex, a dozen tennis players made their dreams come true to some 70 children who teamed up with different players.

The day began with huge beach balls that were the joy of a grandstand that was occupied by a good number of children, demonstrating that every year Kids Day gets better and better.
For Mextenis, the company that organizes the tournament, it´s important to include the community in its activities in order to give back to Acapulco with social responsibility actions.
During the first activity, Denmark’s Holger Rune and Americans (US) John Isner and Ben Shelton played mini-tennis with a dozen kids.

Later, Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic and Americans Frances Tiafoe and Brandon Nakashima, with a boy or girl as a partner, sharpened their aim to hit huge racquets placed on the other side of the court. The activity was joined by Colombian Robert Farah and Mexican Hans Hatch Verdugo.

The Norwegian Casper Ruud participated in another activity, and after his appearance, he completed an hour of training that was watched by young and old alike.

In the stands, everything was fun as the parents of the kids cheered for their young ones, who competed alongside the players with excitement and much enthusiasm.

With an agenda of activities planned for kids and their parents, (Kids Day and Family Day), the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC seeks to integrate the community in the sport as a means of an initiation program, in this case with a first approach to the sport for all the young ones.

• Some of the most outstanding players of the XXX edition of the AMT revealed their thoughts & feelings about the start of the tournament.

Acapulco, February 26th  – Hours away from the start of the main draw at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC, some of the tournament’s top seeds revealed their thoughts & feelings for this season, as well as their excitement for being part of the 30th anniversary celebration of the ATP 500 in Acapulco.

Italian, Matteo Berrettini, who is on his second participation in the AMT confessed: “I’m looking forward to playing, to start the tournament. Last year I didn’t finish the tournament as I wanted so I’m very happy to be here another year, and I´m also playing doubles with my brother so it’s a special tournament for me.”

“I hope it can be a season without injuries and with many tournaments and success. Last year at the end, I played well but I didn’t play enough, that was a bit of a problem, and when you make a lot of standby´s and re-start during a season or career, it’s a bit difficult to regain momentum, specially with a very long season. This year I hope it´ll be much healthier. At the end, tennis is a sport that´s not easy, but we expect big results” added the current No. 24 in the ranking.

On the other hand, the American (US) semifinalist of the 2022 US Open, Frances Tiafoe, reveals that he feels more confident than ever to have a great participation in Mexico. “I think I’m coming to Acapulco with my best level yet. I’m super excited to play, to be here and try to make the long run.” regarding this season he adds “It’s going to be a good one, things are going to be remembered for, It’s started off great so far, but now I’m ready for bigger stages”. “Congrats, for this 30-year anniversary! I’m a huge fan of this event and you guys are great, go for another 30 year run!” he concluded for the tournament. 

His compatriot Taylor Fritz also assured to feel great and confident. He shared his goals for this year: “This season my goals are to be in the Top 5, and also reach a Grand Slam final. I think I follow the ranking a lot, cause every time you go up, it always feels good, hopefully I have good results this year,” said the current World No. 7.

“I want to congratulate the tournament for these first 30 years, one of my favorite spots to come to and hope I can come back for many years” he promised, while deciding to share a small piece of his secret that is to work beyond the physical aspect of the game “For me, mental health depends on having time to enjoy off the court. At times, I just need to lay in bed, relax, play video games, it’s a big part of just having that time off after practice and work.”

Another of the outstanding tennis players present in Acapulco is the Norwegian, winner of nine ATP titles, Casper Ruud, who had to arrive a few days earlier to adapt to the overall conditions “I feel great, we arrived on Friday and I had a couple of good practices. The stadium looks great, it’s my first time with the new venue. I was here in 2021 and had a great time. Unfortunately I had a wrist injury,  making me pull out of the game in the quarterfinals, so hopefully my wrist will be okay this week. The weather is always great, it’s kind of hot and that’s why we play at night. We have the ocean nearby, great food and fans. It’s 30 years!, it allows you to appreciate that the tournament is a huge success and hopefully it continues for another 30+ years.”

Regarding this season he added “Maybe I didn’t have the best start in Australia, but it’s going to be a long year, there are still a lot of tournaments to come. I’m coming out of a mini-season with a lot of physical work done and hopefully it will help me play well. I hope it´ll be a great year for me, I have a lot of things to defend, and will try to give my best every week.”

Finally, the 19-year-old Danish youngster, Holger Rune, is visiting the tournament for the very first time and says he´s surprised by the stadium: “I walked around here, the beach,  been to different courts and it’s very nice, great conditions, I like it, it’s very warm and comfortable to play at night. I’m excited to start”. Regarding his goals as a new Top 10 ranking he confessed “My big dream is to win a Grand Slam, but between being No. 1 and winning a Grand Slam, I prefer the latter…Happy tournament Acapulco!, I wish you all the best in the future” he concluded.

• Rafa won his fourth title of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC
• Nadal surpassed his own record and broke other records in Acapulco

Acapulco, February 26^th, 2022. – The new champion of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC is an old acquaintance. Rafael Nadal defeated Cameron Norrie by a double 6-4 and secure his fourth title of the tournament, 17 years after his first title in Acapulco.

Cameron Norrie did everything he could and competed to match what would have been his first ATP 500. But when Rafa had opportunities to break, he showed his best version and put the Brit in trouble.

Nadal was aggressive in decisive moments. He also knew how to take advantage whenever Norrie opened a window to improve the scoreboard. The first 6-4 reflected how close the first set had been.

Rafa advanced even further in the second set despite losing his serve on one occasion. He managed to get 5-2 and serve for the championship, but Norrie bought himself extra time to prolong the final two more games.

The Spaniard used his great technique in the court to get out of some trouble, especially in the 30-15 final. So he got two match points but only needed the first to become champion.

Rafael Nadal became the third tetrachampion of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC after Thomas Muster and David Ferrer. In addition, he surpassed his own record as the longest champion, which he had established back in 2020.