German Alexander Zverev, fifth in the world rankings, defeated American Steve Johnson 6-3, 7-5 and confirmed his status as top seed to win the Mexican Open.
Zverev became the first racket of the tournament after the abandonment due to injury of the Spanish Rafael Nadal and soon showed his good tennis against a Johnson who defended well. In the first heat he broke the rival’s serve early and took the lead 3-1; He was patient and kept the lead to win 6-3.
The second sleeve was very fought. A break was the difference and placed the German in the round of 16 where his compatriot Peter Gojowczyk, executioner of Mexican Lucas Gómez, will be measured 6-3, 6-2.
Zverev was one of the survivors of a day in which three heads fell in the men’s contest and two in the women’s.
Spanish Rafael Nadal, first seed, left the tournament due to injury and minutes later American Sam Querrey, defending champion and seventh seed, was eliminated (6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (5)), by the Australian Matthew Ebden.
Coming from the qualifying phase, the American of Mexican roots Ernesto Escobedo took his tennis aggressive and always led the way, starring in one of the surprises of the day by beating his compatriot Jack Sock, fourth-seeded, 7-5, 7-6 (3).
The Canadian Denis Shapovalov, one of the most promising youngsters on the circuit, defeated Kei Nishikori from Japan 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-1 and his next opponent will be the Austrian Dominic Thiem, third seed.
Thiem, champion in Acapulco in 2016, achieved a harrowing 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 victory over Britain’s Cameron Norrie.
Another duel of great interest will be that of the Argentine Juan Martín del Potro, winner 6-1, 6-2 against the German Mischa Zverev, against the Spanish David Ferrer, four times champion of the tournament.
Also Argentine, Diego Schwatzman, beat Spanish Fernando Verdasco for the second time in 48 hours, after beating him in the final in Rio de Janeiro last Sunday. This time he beat Verdasco 6-2, 6-4 and tomorrow he will face American Ryan Harrison.
In the women’s draw, sixth-seeded French Alize Cornet fell 6-2, 6-4 to Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson and eighth-seeded German Tatjana María was eliminated 6-2, 7-5 by the Swiss Stefanie Voegele.
The American Sloane Stephens, the first seed, made good the predictions and beat the French Pauline Parmentier 6-4, 6-0. Now she will play against the Dutch Arantxa Rus, from the previous phase and who defeated the American Kayla Day 6-4, 1-6, 6-0.
For her part, the French Kristina Mladenovic eliminated her compatriot Amandine Hesse and will play the eighth against the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, winner 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 against the British Heather Watson.
The Open, which takes place on a fast track, celebrates its 25th version this year.
Zverev became the first racket of the tournament after the abandonment due to injury of the Spanish Rafael Nadal and soon showed his good tennis against a Johnson who defended well. In the first heat he broke the rival’s serve early and took the lead 3-1; He was patient and kept the lead to win 6-3.
The second sleeve was very fought. A break was the difference and placed the German in the round of 16 where his compatriot Peter Gojowczyk, executioner of Mexican Lucas Gómez, will be measured 6-3, 6-2.
Zverev was one of the survivors of a day in which three heads fell in the men’s contest and two in the women’s.
Spanish Rafael Nadal, first seed, left the tournament due to injury and minutes later American Sam Querrey, defending champion and seventh seed, was eliminated (6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (5)), by the Australian Matthew Ebden.
Coming from the qualifying phase, the American of Mexican roots Ernesto Escobedo took his tennis aggressive and always led the way, starring in one of the surprises of the day by beating his compatriot Jack Sock, fourth-seeded, 7-5, 7-6 (3).
The Canadian Denis Shapovalov, one of the most promising youngsters on the circuit, defeated Kei Nishikori from Japan 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-1 and his next opponent will be the Austrian Dominic Thiem, third seed.
Thiem, champion in Acapulco in 2016, achieved a harrowing 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 victory over Britain’s Cameron Norrie.
Another duel of great interest will be that of the Argentine Juan Martín del Potro, winner 6-1, 6-2 against the German Mischa Zverev, against the Spanish David Ferrer, four times champion of the tournament.
Also Argentine, Diego Schwatzman, beat Spanish Fernando Verdasco for the second time in 48 hours, after beating him in the final in Rio de Janeiro last Sunday. This time he beat Verdasco 6-2, 6-4 and tomorrow he will face American Ryan Harrison.
In the women’s draw, sixth-seeded French Alize Cornet fell 6-2, 6-4 to Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson and eighth-seeded German Tatjana María was eliminated 6-2, 7-5 by the Swiss Stefanie Voegele.
The American Sloane Stephens, the first seed, made good the predictions and beat the French Pauline Parmentier 6-4, 6-0. Now she will play against the Dutch Arantxa Rus, from the previous phase and who defeated the American Kayla Day 6-4, 1-6, 6-0.
For her part, the French Kristina Mladenovic eliminated her compatriot Amandine Hesse and will play the eighth against the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, winner 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 against the British Heather Watson.
The Open, which takes place on a fast track, celebrates its 25th version this year.