Kecmanovic Unleashes Best in Acapulco Upset
Miomir Kecmanovic sheds years of frustration to topple Alexander Zverev on the hard courts of Acapulco, his first top-5 victory arriving with aggressive backhands and a serve that finally clicked.
Under the warm Acapulco lights, Miomir Kecmanovic arrived at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC with a clean slate against the elite. The 26-year-old Serbian, ranked No. 84 in the PIF ATP Rankings, carried a 0-11 record into his clash with World No. 4 Alexander Zverev, the 2021 champion here. But in a tense 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-6(4) battle, Kecmanovic tapped into his sharpest form, storming into the quarterfinals of this ATP 500 event.
His backhand, a shot that had simmered without consistent bite, cut through the night with crosscourt precision and down-the-line fire. Zverev’s deep return positioning left gaps on the ad side, which Kecmanovic exploited with flat drives that skimmed low over the net. The German’s two-handed backhand, normally a pillar, crumbled under the pressure, yielding 17 unforced errors to the Serb’s six.
“It feels amazing, especially because it’s been a rough couple of years,” Kecmanovic said. “So I’m happy that some things are going my way finally.”
Backhand aggression flips the script
In the first set, Kecmanovic built momentum with a one-two pattern: heavy topspin forehands crosscourt to draw Zverev wide, followed by inside-in backhands that pinned him back. The hard-court bounce, medium-fast under the thin Mexican air, favored these low-trajectory replies, breaking the German at 4-3 after a forehand winner down the line. Zverev’s frustration showed in rushed returns, but Kecmanovic held firm, his serve landing with unusual depth to close the set.
The second set saw Zverev rally with net rushes and improved first serves, forcing a tiebreak where his power edged out the Serb 7-3. Yet Kecmanovic’s adjustments kept him in the fight; he mixed underspin slices to disrupt rhythm, making the baseline exchanges less predictable. The crowd’s rising hum fed the underdog’s resolve as the match tilted toward a decider.
Serve elevates in the decider
Entering the third, Kecmanovic played loose, unburdened by the favorite’s shadow. His serve surged, delivering topspin kicks that pushed Zverev deeper and set up short balls for aggressive follows. At 4-4, a deep second serve lured an error, then a crosscourt backhand opened the court for a forehand pass, conserving energy on these endurance-testing courts.
The tiebreak became a showcase of poise: Kecmanovic’s precise placement outmaneuvered Zverev’s power, sealing it 7-4 with an inside-out winner. This victory evens their ATP Head2Head at 2-2 against a 24-time tour-level titlist, a milestone that lifts the weight from recent seasons.
“I guess I was more aggressive when it mattered. I served a lot better than my usual standards, so I’m happy that things went well today,” Kecmanovic said. “Obviously he’s the big favourite, so I didn’t have any pressure there, but you still have to play well when it matters, close out the match and thankfully it went my way.”
Quarterfinal path opens wide
Now in the last eight, Kecmanovic faces French lefty Terence Atmane for the first time, a test of adapting to southpaw angles on these sun-warmed hard courts. His no-pressure mindset, born from years of close calls, could extend this run, turning Acapulco’s energy into fuel for a deeper charge. As the tournament pulses with fresh narratives, the Serb’s breakthrough hints at a season finally bending his way.
