Zverev/Melo capture Acapulco crown
Alexander Zverev and Marcelo Melo completed a dream run Saturday when they claimed their first title together at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC.
The German and Brazilian, who first teamed in 2017, defeated Alexander Erler and Robert Galloway 6-3, 6-4 in the championship match to clinch the trophy at the ATP 500 event in Acapulco. The pair won 72 per cent (28/39) of its first-serve points and saved two of the three break points it faced, en route to a dominant 69-minute win.
“Marcelo has been my best friend for over 10 years now, and we finally won a tournament,” Zverev said. ” We have been in a couple of finals and we finally did it. So it’s special.”
Zverev and Melo compete together regularly and also reached the final at the 2024 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. They now hold a 20-25 record as a team, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
With the victory, Melo captured his 42nd tour-level doubles title, tying Mate Pavic for the most trophies won among active players and extended his winning streak to eight matches after capturing the ATP 500 title in Rio de Janeiro last week alongside Joao Fonseca.
“Thanks to Sascha’s family, it’s amazing,” said Melo. “We have known each other for almost 10 years now, they’re always together, supporting. Sascha, thank you to you as well.”
Zverev, currently No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings, lost to Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round of singles but returned to the court three days later to win his first doubles crown since 2019 when he partnered with his brother Mischa Zverev to clinch the title in Acapulco.
Luz/Matos triumph in Santiago
Rafael Matos and Orlando Luz capped another dominant week this season Saturday when they defeated Ariel Behar and Matthew Romios 6-3, 6-4 to clinch the trophy at the BCI Seguros Chile Open.
With the victory, the Brazilians, who also won the Buenos Aires crown two weeks ago, joined Harri Heliovaara/Henry Patten and Theo Arribage/Albano Olivetti as the only teams to have won at least two titles in 2026.
“It’s amazing,” said Luz. “It’s my first title in South America. It feels very special to be playing with a friend. To be playing with somebody that I consider family. It’s really nice. It’s even more special.”
Competing in their third tour-level final together, the second-seeded Brazilians saved all three break points they faced and won 76 per cent of their first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, en route to an 80-minute triumph.
With two trophies and runs to the Brisbane and Australian Open quarter-finals, Luz and Matos hold a 15-4 record this year, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index and have climbed to No. 8 in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings.
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