Tennis News

Kypson shocks two-time champion De Minaur in Acapulco opener

Patrick Kypson earned the biggest win of his career on Monday at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, where he shocked second seed Alex de Minaur 6-1, 6-7(4), 7-6(4) to reach the second round in Acapulco. With the victory, the American notched his first tour-level win since Indian Wells in 2024.

De Minaur was competing in his first tournament since claiming the Rotterdam crown two weeks ago. The last two times he competed in Acapulco, he left as champion, having captured back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. In stark contrast, Kypson had only earned three tour-level wins, all in 2024.

“It feels amazing,” Kypson said. “Everything was important. I had to serve well. I had to return well. I hit my forehand really big. Luckily, I was able to do those things for a pretty extended period of time.”

Kypson was two points from defeat when De Minaur served for the match at 5-4 in the decider. But the American qualifier held firm to force the tie-break and sealed a hard-fought win in two hours and 39 minutes. He won 71 per cent (48/68) of his first-serve points and converted three of the five break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

“[Staying calm and composed] does not come naturally to me,” Kypson said. “That’s probably one of the hardest parts of playing the sport, just keeping it together.”

The 26-year-old is up seven spots to No. 93 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. The former Texas A&M University star was a part of a six-way tie for the most titles won at the ATP Challenger level in 2025, with four. In the second round, he will face Brandon Nakashima, who eased to a 6-3, 6-4 triumph against Elias Ymer.

In other first-round action, 2025 finalist Alejandro Davidovich Fokina launched his Acapulco campaign with a straight-sets victory. The Spaniard moved past Daniel Altmaier 7-5, 6-3 in one hour and 34 minutes.

Davidovich Fokina will face Rinky Hijikata or Mattia Bellucci in the second round.

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Hanfmann, Pellegrino win Santiago openers

Yannick Hanfmann lost just three games in a dominant first-round performance on Monday at the BCI Seguros Chile Open, where he cruised past Serbian Dusan Lajovic 6-0, 6-3.

Hanfmann, who leads Lajovic 2-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, is a two-time quarter-finalist at the ATP 250 event in Santiago. The 34-year-old German hit 22 winners against Lajovic and will next play fourth seed Camilo Ugo Carabelli.

Italian qualifier Andrea Pellegrino earned his third tour-level win and first this season with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 win against Argentine qualifier Alex Barrena. Pellegrino won the doubles title in Santiago in 2023 with Andrea Vavassori.

“It feels great to win,” Pellegrino said. “When you come from the qualies after winning some matches, it is always great. In the first set, I started very well with good intensity and he was missing a little too much. And second set it was 2-2 and I went a little bit lower with my level and he played much better. The third set is always a fight.”

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Draper makes winning return to tour after injury

British number one Jack Draper marks his post-injury return to action on the ATP Tour with a straight-set win over Frenchman Quentin Halys at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

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Auger-Aliassime converts 6th MP in Dubai opener, Wawrinka wins

Felix Auger-Aliassime is back at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships determined to go one step further than last year, and the top seed made a confident start to his 2026 campaign on Monday, despite needing six match points to cross the line.

The No. 8 player in the PIF ATP Rankings moved past Zhang Zhizhen 6-3, 7-(4) to launch his title bid at the ATP 500 event. Twelve months ago, Auger-Aliassime advanced to the Dubai final before falling to an inspired Stefanos Tsitsipas, and the Canadian is once again among the favourites.

“I stopped counting at some point, it was getting too frustrating,” Auger-Aliassime said of the missed match points. “Having match points is the position you want to be in as a player, but it’s weird how the mind plays a trick on you. How much further I am from losing than he is, he should be the one that’s tight. But I told myself ‘If there is a third set, I’ll be there’.”

Since retiring from his first-round clash with Nuno Borges at the Australian Open in January, Auger-Aliassime has rediscovered some of his best form. He has won nine of his past 10 matches, lifting the trophy in Montpellier before finishing runner-up in Rotterdam.

With his speed and crafty court coverage, Auger-Aliassime saved all four break points he faced against Zhang, according to Infosys ATP Stats. The 25-year-old then missed two match points on return at 5-4 and three at 6-5 in the second set, but produced a clinical response in the tie-break.

Competing as the top seed at an event above ATP 250 level for the first time, Auger-Aliassime will next face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who earlier snapped his five-match tour-level losing streak. The big-serving French qualifier defeated Tunisian wild card Moez Echargui 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 7-6(4) to earn his first win since reaching the quarter-finals in Auckland in January.

In other action on Monday, 2016 Dubai winner Stan Wawrinka earned his sixth consecutive opening-round win by defeating Benjamin Hassan 7-5, 6-3. Roger Federer, the tournament’s record eight-time champion, was in attendance to watch his countryman.

With the victory, Wawrinka also improved to 10 tour-level wins since turning 40 — the most by any player in that age group in the Open Era. The Swiss will next face third seed and 2023 champion Daniil Medvedev or Shang Juncheng.

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Dimitrov on Nalbandian addition: 'It happened so naturally'

Fresh coaching firepower surrounds Grigor Dimitrov while he prepares for the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC.

Former No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings and 11-time tour-level champion David Nalbandian has recently joined the Bulgarian’s camp, adding further experience to a team that already welcomed former Top 20 player Xavier Malisse at the start of the season. For Dimitrov, the early signs have been encouraging as he works to rediscover his top level.

“I knew them separately, and it also helps when you’ve played against them a few times,” Dimitrov said in an ATP Media interview ahead of his run in Acapulco. “It’s nice when you can relate to someone that you have played. They have been retired for over 10 years, but it’s also not that long ago.

“At the beginning, when I got into conversations with them, we really started to see things similarly and I could relate to them in terms of the timing of their careers, injuries, game plan, thoughts, and all of that. In a way, it happened so naturally. Right now, we are still finding our footing, because it’s very new for all of us, but things are very clear of what needs to be done and how we want to tackle the game.”

Dimitrov owns a 2-1 Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Malisse and lost his lone meeting with Nalbandian at Queen’s Club in 2012. More than a decade on, former rivals are now united in pursuit of a shared goal.

The reset follows a frustrating 2025 campaign, during which Dimitrov was forced to retire due to a sudden pectoral injury while leading Jannik Sinner by two sets at Wimbledon. It was a setback that limited him to just one further appearance before turning his focus to the new season.

With one win from his first three matches this year, the 34-year-old hopes a return to Acapulco — where he lifted the trophy on his debut in 2014 — can reignite his momentum.

“I came earlier. I just wanted to make sure I step on the court a few extra hours,” said Dimitrov, who opens against Terence Atmane on Wednesday at the ATP 500. “The past months have been a little bumpy. I haven’t been able to practise as much as I would like nor was I able to get more matches.”

That 2014 run, in which he beat Andy Murray in an epic three-set semi-final, remains a cherished memory, yet Dimitrov is focused firmly on the present.

“I’m always going to hold on to great memories,” said Dimitrov when asked about that run. “Every time we step into the same tournament, it’s the same tournament, but it’s a new year. I’m always trying to build off that new habit, whatever the new preparation looks like.

“I’m always trying to understand myself. Hopefully I’m able to really implement them and make sure that I am feeling good about it when I step on the court.”

The pectoral injury, which kept him out for three months between Wimbledon and Paris also offered a period of reflection. As he targets a return to the form that he used to win the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals crown, Dimitrov recognises the internal adjustments required.

“I had to change things up, whether I liked it or not,” Dimitrov said of his injury. “It was more of the work that I had to do for myself, more from a mental point of view. I had to change a lot of things and that played a little mind game with me. It’s normal, though, and I’m trying to find the silver lining. I’d never really been injured or experienced being away from the sport for that long, so it was extremely new.”

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Van Assche returns to Top 100 following Lille Challenger title

Luca Van Assche returned to the Top 100 of the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time in 21 months following his Sunday triumph at the ATP Challenger event in Lille, France.

The 21-year-old — who competed at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in 2023 and 2024 — won the Play In Challenger, his second title at that level this season. In the final, the home favourite downed fellow former Jeddah competitor Alexander Blockx 6-2, 6-4.

“This victory shows that I worked very hard before the start of the season,” said Van Assche, who earlier this month won the Quimper Challenger. “It’s the reward for all the work I’ve put in over the last few months and I’m very happy.”

Van Assche is the first player to win five titles at Challenger 125-level, a category that was introduced in 2019.

Van Assche, who has been as high as No. 63 in the PIF ATP Rankings, first cracked the Top 100 following his title at the 2023 Sanremo Challenger. Thanks to his Lille victory, Van Assche is back above that threshold for the first time since May 2024. Van Assche holds the final spot in this week’s Top 100.

Big win. Big trophy 🏆@lucavanassche becomes the first player to claim five ATP Challenger 125 titles since the category was introduced in 2019#ATPChallenger | @PlayinLille pic.twitter.com/9iknBypB7l

— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) February 22, 2026

Seeded seventh in Lille, Van Assche played his best tennis under pressure. He saved 25 of the 28 break points he faced throughout the week, according to Infosys ATP Stats. The Frenchman raced past 16-year-old star Moise Kouame 6-1, 6-1 in the semi-finals and applied the finishing touches on his title run.

“I’m trying to find a strong playing identity, to maintain a very high level every day, and that’s what I managed to do this week,” said Van Assche. “I never played an exceptional match, but I managed to stay at a very good level.”

Sakellaridis, 21, surges to first Challenger trophy
Greek Stefanos Sakellaridis claimed his maiden Challenger title with a memorable victory at the Delhi Open 2026. The 21-year-old overcame Oliver Crawford 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(6) in a three-hour, nine-minute final battle, during which the Briton was two points from victory in the deciding-set tie-break. Crawford earlier let slip a 5-2 lead in the final set.

Sakellaridis is up 55 places to a career-high No. 220 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Gojo ousts three of top four seeds to win in Mexico
Borna Gojo earned his third Challenger crown at the Chacachallenger – Metepec Open, where the Croatian downed three of the top four seeds en route to the title. From the quarter-finals onward, the 27-year-old defeated second seed Bernard Tomic, third seed and home favourite Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez and fourth seed Alexis Galarneau.

Gojo, who in his previous outing reached the final at the Cleveland Challenger, defeated the Canadian Galarneau 6-1, 6-4 to lift the trophy.

Justo triumphs on home soil, claims maiden Challenger title
Argentine Guido Ivan Justo won the Challenger 50 event on home soil in Tigre, lifting his first trophy at that level and climbing to a career-high No. 277 in the PIF ATP Rankings. The 28-year-old rallied past Lautaro Midon 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 in the AAT Challenger IEB+ Edicion Tigre I final.

🇦🇷 Nothing like winning at home 🇦🇷#ATPChallenger | @AATenis pic.twitter.com/nqQ0oErvGW

— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) February 22, 2026

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Mexican Open denies cancellation amid violence

Mexican Open organisers say the tournament will go ahead despite violence following the death of the country’s most wanted drug baron.

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Etcheverry surges following maiden ATP Tour title, Mover of Week

Carlos Alcaraz, Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Sebastian Korda won titles during a three-tournament week on the ATP Tour. ATPTour.com looks at the movers of the week as of Monday 23 February.

No. 33 Tomas Martin Etcheverry, +18
The Argentine has jumped 18 places to No. 33 after he won his maiden tour-level title at the Rio Open presented by Claro. Etcheverry won two dramatic three-set matches on the final Sunday following heavy rain on Saturday. The 26-year-old, who beat Alejandro Tabilo in the final, was competing in his fourth tour-level final. It is the first time Etcheverry has been back inside the Top 40 since February last year.

No. 13 Jakub Mensik, +3 (Career High)
Mensik has climbed to a career-high No. 13 in the PIF ATP Rankings following a semi-final run at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha. The 20-year-old Czech upset World No. 2 Jannik Sinner at the ATP 500 event.

No. 34 Arthur Fils, +6
Fils’ comeback from injury hit new heights in Doha, where he advanced to the championship match. The Frenchman, who returned to Tour at the start of February following a back injury, dropped just one set en route to the championship match before Alcaraz stopped him.

No. 40 Sebastian Korda +10
Korda is back in the Top 40 following success on home soil at the Delray Beach Open. The American defeated Tommy Paul in straight sets in the final to clinch his third tour-level crown. He is the ninth champion at the ATP 250 event.

No. 42 Alejandro Tabilo, +26
Tabilo has surged 26 spots after reaching the biggest final of his career at the ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro. The Chilean has now won six of his past eight matches, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, having also reached the quarter-finals in Buenos Aires earlier this month.

Other Notable Top 100 Movers

No. 7 Taylor Fritz, +1
No. 12 Casper Ruud, +1
No. 22 Tommy Paul, +2
No. 65 Vit Kopriva, +22 (Career High)
No. 66 Ignacio Buse, +25 (Career High)
No. 76 Thiago Agustin Tirante, +16 (Career High)
No. 94 Alexander Blockx, +10 (Career High)
No. 100 Luca Van Assche, +30

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Tomas Martin Etcheverry: First-Time Winner Spotlight

After three painful losses in tour-level finals, Tomas Martin Etcheverry has finally broken through to claim his maiden ATP Tour title.

The 26-year-old Argentine achieved the milestone in dramatic fashion at the Rio Open presented by Claro, where he battled through a demanding Sunday to defeat Vit Kopriva in the semi-finals and Alejandro Tabilo in the championship match.

The triumph marked a long-awaited breakthrough for Etcheverry, who had previously come close in the finals in Santiago, Houston, and most notably Lyon, where he held a championship point before falling to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a deciding tie-break.

After lifting the trophy in Rio and rising 18 spots to No. 33 in the PIF ATP Rankings, ATPTour.com caught up with the Argentine to reflect on his perseverance, the challenges he overcame, and the people who helped him reach this career-defining moment.

What does it mean to win your first ATP Tour title?
It’s a dream come true. I’ve been working so hard with my team. I lost three finals before, so it was in my head. I had a new chance this week. It was tough conditions — physically. Today I played for four hours with the semi-finals [and final]. Yesterday there was a rain delay, today there was a heat rule… It was really, really tough, but I did it. I’m really proud of myself.

Who are some of the key people you would like to dedicate this trophy to?
My family and my girlfriend, who believe in me. My team, who supports me a lot. It was a tough year last year for me. I lost a lot of matches… I think they deserve this title. And myself.

After losing three finals, how much was winning a title on your mind?
I had a lot of pressure because I wanted to be an ATP Tour champion, of course. It was in my head. One of the goals of this year was to be ATP Tour champion, and I did it.

When you started the sport as a kid, what made you fall in love with tennis?
I started playing tennis when I was five years old. I love this sport so much. I like to travel and compete… I think this is the best sport in the world.

You said that Djokovic and Del Potro are your idols. What do you admire about each of them?
Juan Martin for Argentina, he made a lot of great moments for our tennis. He inspired me when he won the 2009 US Open. That night I cried a lot and I still think about that match. Of course, Novak because I like how he plays, how [even] now he is playing at the highest level with Jannik [Sinner] and Carlos [Alcaraz]. I think he is the best player in history.

What is the story behind naming your dog ‘Roland Garros’?
When I was nine years old, my father gave me a little dog. I named him Roland Garros because it’s my favourite tournament. He passed away one year ago, but he lived for 16.

What is something that people don’t know about you?
I like to build Lego. I’m a big fan. I have a little museum in my house now with Star Wars and other buildings. I think it’s really fun.

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Korda wins all-American duel, claims Delray Beach crown

Sebastian Korda earned his third ATP Tour title on Sunday at the Delray Beach Open, where he defeated fifth-seeded countryman Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3 in the final.

A 2021 finalist in Delray Beach, Korda went one step further to become the ninth American champion at the event. Thanks to his title run, the 25-year-old is up to No. 40 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

“[It means] a lot. I’ve been through some stuff the past couple of months, years,” Korda said. “I’ve lost a lot of finals and now to get one here in Delray — this is where I made my first ATP final — so it’s like a full-circle day. I’m just happy.”

Stateside superstar Sebi 🇺🇸💪@SebiKorda clinches title No.3 on home courts at Delray Beach!#DBOpen pic.twitter.com/afCR0pUHHT

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 22, 2026

In blustery afternoon conditions, Korda remained tight to the baseline and dictated play with confident ball-striking. He earned a decisive break at 5-4 in the opening set and held his ground on serve, winning 83 per cent of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Korda courageously dug out of a 0/40 hole when serving for the match, saving a fourth break point later that game and eventually clinching the title after one hour, 22 minutes.

“It was tricky. We were both struggling out there, it was super windy,” Korda said. “I was just trying to put the ball in the court. I was born and raised in Florida, so I’m used to the wind a little bit, but this was extreme for sure.”

Korda ousted three of the top five seeds this week, including second seed Casper Ruud in the quarter-finals and third seed Flavio Cobolli in the semi-finals.

In the second all-American final this season (Dallas), Korda improved to 5-2 against Paul in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Sunday marked their first meeting in 20 months (2024 Queen’s Club). Paul, 28, was aiming for his fifth ATP Tour trophy.

Korda did not play between Roland Garros and Winston-Salem last year while he recovered from a stress fracture in his right shin, leading him to use a boot and crutches.

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