ATP Acapulco: Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez writes Mexican tennis historical past

19-year-old Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez loved a memorable night time on the house ATP 500 occasion in Acapulco. A youngster prevailed over Aleksandar Vukic 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 in three hours and one minute and wrote Mexican tennis historical past. 

Pacheco Mendez grew to become the youngest Mexican winner of a match on the ATP event since 1996 and made a correct celebration along with his partisan crowd. A yr in the past, Rodrigo fell to Aleksandar within the first spherical in Los Cabos. 

A youngster endured all of the challenges on Tuesday night time in Acapulco, serving properly within the decider and overpowering the Aussie within the tie break.

Rising to the event 💪

Wild card Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez is producing the products in his house nation 🇲🇽#AMT2025 pic.twitter.com/Gk7CpwIHUh

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 26, 2025

A youngster landed 36 winners and 26 unforced errors, taming his strokes properly and retaining his composure. Vukic attacked and fired 50 direct factors and 54 errors. They hit an analogous variety of service winners, and Pacheco Mendez made the distinction from the baseline. 

The house star served at 70% and outplayed his rival behind the primary and second serve. The Mexican denied six of eight break factors and created 12 break alternatives. Aleksandar denied ten, throwing the whole lot at his rival however falling within the closing phases.

Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez & Aleksandar Vukic, Acapulco 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Vukic saved two break factors within the first half of the opening set. The Aussie stepped in on the return at 5-4 and generated three set factors after the rival’s double fault. The Aussie sprayed a few unfastened forehand, which might price him dearly!

Aleksandar squandered sport factors at 5-5 and supplied his rival two break factors. Pacheco Mendez transformed the second after the rival’s wayward forehand, shifting 6-5 up and serving for the opener. A left-hander held at love with a pressured error, wrapping up the opener 7-5 in 55 minutes. 

Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez, Acapulco 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Vukic served properly early within the second set and broke at 15 within the fourth sport after the rival’s backhand error. Rodrigo created a break probability within the seventh sport and missed it when his return landed lengthy. The Aussie held with a service winner and moved 5-2 in entrance. 

The house star served to remain within the set in sport eight and confronted three set factors. The younger gun denied them and held. He gained a lift and pulled the break again at 3-5 after a backhand crosscourt winner. Aleksandar stayed targeted and made a push on the return at 5-4.

Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez, Acapulco 2025© Stream screenshot

 

The Aussie drew the Mexican’s mistake and clinched the set 6-4, forcing a decider after an hour and 42 minutes. Rodrigo began everywhere in the ultimate set and offered six comfy holds. Vukic saved 4 break factors within the first sport and averted an early setback.

A youngster stepped in on the return in sport 9 and generated two break factors. Aleksandar denied them with service winners and held for extra drama. They served properly within the ultimate three video games and launched a deciding tie break. 

Acapulco 2025© Stream screenshot

 

The Aussie landed a forehand down the road winner for 2-0. He netted a routine forehand within the fourth sport, bringing his rival again to 2-2. They served properly within the subsequent 4 factors and stayed neck and neck. A left-hander cracked a forehand down the road winner for 5-4. 

He created two match factors after Aleksandar’s forehand mistake and transformed the primary with an ace for a notable victory in entrance of the house followers.