Ruud Stars In Acapulco Opening Night Under The Lights

Casper Ruud, Acapulco
Casper Ruud (photo: Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC)

ACAPULCO/WASHINGTON, February 25, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

The Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC is unique among ATP Tour stops. Because of the hot and humid temperatures that permeate the beach resort city of Acapulco on Mexico’s Pacific coast during the day, where this ATP 500-series event is held, the entirety of the outdoor hard-court tournament takes place in the evening and at nighttime. It fits right in with the Mexican nightlife, which features a vibrant celebration of culture, music and festivity.

The 2025 Acapulco field includes three Top-10 and seven Top-25 players, highlighted by former champion and this year’s No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany. Two-time defending champion and current World No. 8 Alex de Minaur of Australia declined to return and is competing this week at the ATP 500-series Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Tennis after sundown under the bright lights at Arena GNP Seguros – host site for the fourth straight year and featuring big-name stars like World No. 5 Casper Ruud of Norway on opening night – proved to be quite an experience on Monday. Even if the lights sometimes didn’t always stay on.

“It feels good, another year in this beautiful place, the weather is amazing and the fans always give me a good welcome,” Ruud, 26, a finalist last year, said on Sunday during his pre-tournament news conference. “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.”

The second-seeded Ruud, playing in his second ATP 500 tournament this season after reaching the Dallas final earlier this month, began his 2025 Acapulco campaign against No. 61 Arthur Rinderknech of France. Ruud came in with a 13-4 win-loss record in ATP 500 events since the start of the 2024 season. He went 7-1 versus French competitors last year. After Monday’s performance, Ruud has added another win to each of those totals.

Neither Rinderknech nor a power failure, which caused intermittent blackouts on court and delayed play for a total of about 40 minutes, could stop Ruud. The Norwegian No. 1 rallied from an early break down in the opening set to win, 6-4, 6-3, in an hour and 42 minutes to improve to 3-0 lifetime against Rinderknech and to move into the second round against either No. 66 Aleksandar Vukic of Australia or 356th-ranked Mexican wild card Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez. The victory improved his 2025 win-loss record to 10-2. He’s 8-2 overall in Acapulco.

From 1-3 down in the first set, Ruud ruthlessly won five straight games to capture the opener 6-4 and to garner a 3-0 lead in the second set. He was never seriously threatened by Rinderknech the rest of the match and closed out the straightforward victory on his second match-point opportunity.

Ruud finished with 23 winners – 15 of them from his forehand side – to just 11 unforced errors, converted three of nine break-point opportunities and outpointed Rinderknech 71-54. Although Rinderknech hit 26 winners, he also committed 30 unforced errors. Ruud won 42 of his 71 total points from the baseline.

Following Ruud on Estadio, was World No. 14 and fifth seed Ben Shelton of the United States, one of eight Americans in the 32-player field. A quarterfinalist last year, he defeated Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, ranked 39th, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4), in two hours and one minute behind 13 aces.

Finally, World No. 10 and third seed Tommy Paul of the United States, a runner-up two years ago in Acapulco, eased past 89th-ranked qualifier Gabriel Diallo of Canada, 6-2, 6-2, in an hour and 14 minutes in the final match of the evening on Estadio. Paul saved all five break points he faced.

Also advancing to the second round were: 76th-ranked German wild card Daniel Altmaier, who fired 15 aces and defeated No. 44 Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3; World No. 25 and eighth seed Tomas Machac of Czechia, who converted five of 11 break points and beat fellow Czech Jakub Mensik, ranked 54th, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3; and 83rd-ranked American qualifier Learner Tien, who fought past No. 74 Cameron Norrie of Great Britain, 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Past champion Zverev headlines Acapulco field

World No. 2 Alexander Zverev of Germany, who is making his seventh appearance in Acapulco, won the 2021 Acapulco title and reached the final in 2019. The top seed in this year’s event, his first-round opponent will be 33rd-ranked Matteo Arnaldi of Italy.

During his pre-tournament news conference Sunday, Zverev (11-3) said he was happy to be back in Acapulco, and “to be in a place where I have been successful in winning the tournament in 2021. I hope I can repeat.”

After being the top seed in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro the past two weeks, both on clay – and being knocked out of each tournament in the quarterfinals – Zverev said he wants to show good tennis and compete for the title. He is playing in his first hard-court event since advancing to the Australian Open final in January.

“You always have to focus on the next match, on the next opponent. I know I am No. 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. I can’t wait for this challenge,” he said.

“My goal is to win the big finals, win Grand Slams and be No. 1. It’s been my dream all my life and I hope this is the year.”

Fritz withdraws from Acapulco over the weekend

World No. 4 Taylor Fritz of the United States, who would have been the No. 2 seed this week in Acapulco, withdrew ahead of the ATP 500 event’s draw on Saturday. According to the ATP Tour website, he revealed he had been dealing with an abdominal injury.

Fritz wrote on Instagram: “Really sad that I have to pull out of Acapulco this year. I’ve been dealing with an abdominal injury since the week before Dallas. I have been playing through the injury, hoping that it could get better because several parts o my game were and still are pain free.

“I am at the point now where it has not improved and it’s frustrating to be playing when I know I can’t play 100 percent and am avoiding certain shots or just hitting shots differently than I normally would to avoid the pain.”

Fritz added that he’s hoping that by giving it this week to rest and rehab will get him back to 100 percent soon. The American No. 1’s next scheduled tournament is the ATP Masters 1000 at Indian Wells in the California palm desert.

Monday’s Abierto Mexicano Telcel results

Tuesday’s Abierto Mexicano Telcel order of play

By the numbers

The Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC has been recognized by ATP players as the best tournament of the year in its category (ATP 500) three times (2007, 2017, 2019). The Acapulco event was held at the Arena GNP Seguros for the first time in 2022. It switched to blue hard courts in 2014 after being played for 20 years on clay.

“Quotable …”

“People are very passionate in Mexico. They wait very eagerly to want a Mexican in the Top 100 in the world. [The fans] 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 Mendez of Mexico, ranked No. 356, who received a wild card into the main draw. He will play No. 66 Aleksandar Vukic of Australia in his first-round match.

 

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