Zverev Returns to Acapulco’s Demanding Draw
Alexander Zverev steps back into competition as top seed in the 2026 Acapulco draw, facing a field thick with top talent and personal stakes on the hard courts of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC.
The hard courts in Acapulco hum with anticipation as Alexander Zverev prepares for his first match since the Australian Open. Top seed in this ATP 500 event, the German opens against Corentin Moutet, a left-handed trickster whose slices and angles could disrupt Zverev’s powerful baseline game right from the start. At 28, Zverev, the 2021 champion here, eyes a deep run to rebuild momentum after a quarterfinal exit down under.
Zverev probes mental edges early
Moutet’s underspin forces opponents into uncomfortable positions, testing Zverev’s ability to transition from defense to attack with inside-out forehands. A projected semifinal against Casper Ruud looms large, where the Norwegian’s heavy topspin could mirror Zverev’s own style in grueling crosscourt exchanges. Ruud, seeded third, returns after paternity leave, his focus honed as he chases a 15th title following last year’s final appearance.
De Minaur defends amid rising pressure
Second seed Alex de Minaur arrives buoyant from his Rotterdam win, seeking a third straight Acapulco crown after triumphs in 2023 and 2024. The Australian’s speed and flat groundstrokes thrive on these medium-paced surfaces, but defending consecutive titles demands unflinching consistency against a draw packed with threats. His path might lead to a clash with Grigor Dimitrov, the 2014 winner, whose elegant backhand slices contrast de Minaur’s aggressive 1–2 patterns.
Dimitrov begins against Terence Atmane, the French lefty’s defensive lobs challenging the Bulgarian’s net approaches. Five Top 20 players populate the field, including last year’s finalist Alejandro Davidovich Fokina as fourth seed, whose explosive inside-in forehands add volatility to night sessions under the Mexican lights.
Underdogs ignite local fire
Fifth seed Flavio Cobolli faces home hope Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez, the lone Mexican who reached the 2025 quarterfinals amid roaring crowds. Pacheco Mendez’s down-the-line returns could fuel an upset, pressuring Cobolli’s improving serve on courts that reward quick adjustments. Valentin Vacherot, sixth seed, brings steady depth, while seventh seed Cameron Norrie, the 2022 finalist, meets #NextGenATP star Rafael Jodar, pitting lefty slice serves against youthful power.
Frances Tiafoe completes the top eight, his athletic inside-out winners poised to exploit any lapses in a tournament ripe for American breakthroughs. As Zverev, de Minaur, and Ruud anchor the seeds, the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC draw—revealed Saturday—sets up tactical battles where spin control and mental fortitude will dictate who claims the 500 points and lifts the trophy.
Watch Extended Highlights of the 2025 Acapulco Final:
