MORELIA/STARNBERG, March 26, 2026

The Estadio Tres Marias witnessed a historic moment as Mexico’s Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez secured the most important victory of his young career. In a high-intensity second-round clash at the Morelia Open, the Yucatan native, competing as an alternate in the ATP Challenger Tour 125 event, defeated top seed and world No. 80 James Duckworth with a composed 7–6(4), 6–3 performance.

Sealed with Ace No. 1️⃣4️⃣ 🔥

Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez topples [1] Duckworth 7-6(4), 6-3 to make it a hat-trick of Mexican swing quarter-final appearances!#ATPChallenger | 🇲🇽 Morelia pic.twitter.com/9NWIq0z8b1

— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) March 26, 2026

Visibly emotional after the match, Pacheco Mendez thanked the local fans for their unwavering support. “I’m surprised and grateful to see so many people who came to support me today. I was very nervous, but I think I was able to show my best level thanks to all of you. Morelia is a wonderful venue, and I hope that in the future more Mexican players can compete here and receive the same support I’ve felt,” he said.

Pacheco finished with 12 aces, just one double fault, and held all of his service games (10/10), showcasing remarkable consistency. He prevailed after one hour and 15 minutes.

With this victory, Pacheco Mendez confirms his strong form after recent wins over high-level opponents. Now embraced as the crowd favorite in Michoacan, he moves into the quarterfinals, further cementing Morelia as a pivotal stage in his career.

Next Challenge: Quarterfinal Clash with Borna Gojo

Pacheco Mendez’s journey continues with a tough test against eighth seed Borna Gojo of Croatia.

Gojo arrives after a physically demanding two-hour and 14-minute battle against Quinn Vandecasteele, winning 6–3, 6–7(6), 7–5. While Pacheco Mendez advanced in straight sets, his opponent endured a grueling three-set encounter, which could play a role in their upcoming match.

The quarterfinal is expected to feature a strong serving contest, with Gojo relying on his experience and power, while Pacheco Mendez carries the confidence of having defeated the tournament’s highest-ranked player.

Backed by an enthusiastic home crowd, the young Mexican will aim to extend his winning run and secure a place in the semifinals of the Morelia Open.