The German Daniel Altmaier, the 57th ranked player in the world, gave the big surprise this Tuesday at the Mexican Tennis Open, by defeating his compatriot Alexander Zverevfirst favorite, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
In the sixth game of the first set, Altmaier took advantage of a terrible service game from ‘Sacha’, ranked sixth in the world, who made two double faults and two more unforced errors that marked the fate of the first set.
With a break in the sixth game, Zverev headed to victory in the second set where he was better, but in the third Altmaier did damage to his forehand, achieved a break in the second game and saved five breaks points to win.
“This victory means a lot to me; In Mexico, I have a great team with my girlfriend Paulina, my family and my Venezuelan coach. It’s very sad what happened (the October hurricane in the port) and this victory is for the people here,” said Altmaier, who will face Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the round of 16.
The Danish Holger Runesecond seed, the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipasfifth, and the Norwegian Casper Ruudsixth, debuted with wins, the first two comfortably.
runesseventh in the world list, He defeated American Michael Mmoh 6-2, 6-3racket 122 of the ATP.
In the first set, Rune was broken in the second game and, from there, he owned the match; In the second set he deciphered Mmoh’s serve in the fourth game and patiently closed out a match in which he did damage with 24 winners and showed his best tennis on three break occasions against him.
Rune will face American Aleksandar Kovacevic in the second roundwinner 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 of Australian Jordan Thompson, singles and doubles champion last week in Los Cabos.
Tsitsipas’ victory was just as comfortabletwelfth in the ranking, 6-3, 6-4 against Russian Roman Safiullin.
Stefanos promised to donate one thousand dollars for every ace serve for the recovery of Acapulco. This Tuesday he did five of those services and added the first $5,000.
The Greek broke in the sixth game of the first set and the fifth of the second to seal his pass to the top 16 phase where he will challenge the Italian Flavio Cobolli.
Ruud, eleventh in the world ranking, defeated American Christopher Eubanks 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3, who pressed on, although he was outclassed in the third round. The Norwegian will face Serbian Dusan Lajovic, 6-2, 6-2 winner against Mexican Rodrigo Pacheco.
This Tuesday the American French Tiafoe, eighth seed, beat Australian Max Purcell 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 and will play in the second round against German Dominik Kopefer, who beat Frenchman Terrence Atmane 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.
Source: La Verdad
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