MERIDA/STARNBERG, March 21, 2025
Coming from behind in the second set, Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez stepped up at the right moment to clinch a hard-fought victory over fellow Mexican Alex Hernandez, 6-3, 7-5, advancing to the quarterfinals of the II Yucatan Open, being held at Club Campestre de Yucatan.
Next up, No. 7 seed Pacheco Mendez faces what is expected to be his toughest challenge yet in the ATP Challenger Tour 75 tournament: a showdown against second-seeded Chilean Cristian Garin, who secured his spot in the next round with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Bulgaria’s Petr Nesterov in just one hour and 34 minutes.
“I knew today was going to be a tough challenge against Alex. We know each other well—he knows where I’ll hit the ball, and I know where he will,” Pacheco Mendez shared. “The conditions played a role too—the court was slow, there was a lot of wind, and the clay surface made it harder for my shots to do damage.
“Tomorrow, I’ll go out there to enjoy the match. It’ll be a great experience—my first Challenger quarterfinal in Merida!” added Pacheco, who also advanced in doubles.
Other notable results
Meanwhile, Felipe Meligeni Alves continued his strong run in the tournament. The Brazilian overcame Patrick Maloney from the United States 7-6(5), 6-3 in one hour and 32 minutes.
The day’s first upset came from Bolivia’s Juan Carlos Prado Angelo, who knocked out sixth seed Dmitry Popko of Kazakhstan 7-5, 1-6, 7-6, in what was arguably the most thrilling match of the tournament so far.
The third set was a grueling contest, with both players refusing to back down. Prado Angelo built a commanding 4-0 lead, seemingly on his way to victory, but Popko fought back with a break of serve, eventually closing the gap to 4-2.
The Bolivian responded well, extending his lead to 5-2, but strong winds made conditions challenging for both players.
“It was tough to play in these conditions—it felt like it was going to rain, but it never did,” Prado commented. “I’m happy with how I managed to fight back after losing my lead. It was a great match.”
With Prado up 5-2, Popko mounted an incredible comeback, winning four straight games to take a 6-5 lead. Just when it seemed momentum had completely shifted, Prado broke back to force a tiebreak.
At 4-4 in the tiebreak, Popko missed an easy volley at the net, visibly rattling him. He then hit one shot into the net and another out of bounds, sealing his heartbreaking defeat.
“It was a really tough match, just like every time we play,” Prado Angelo said. “I’m happy to reach another Challenger quarterfinal, and now it’s time to rest and prepare for the next round.”
Yucatan Open – Thursday Results
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