In a thrilling opening day at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presented by HSBC, French tennis veteran Gael Monfils showcased his signature flair by defeating Bosnian player Damir Dzumhur in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6(5). This match marks the beginning of Monfils’ farewell season on the ATP Tour, and he received an enthusiastic reception from the crowd of 2,000 fans at the GNP Seguros Arena. The match lasted an hour and 53 minutes, with Monfils demonstrating his prowess, particularly in a tense second-set tiebreak.
With an ATP ranking of 170, Monfils expressed his gratitude for the supporters, saying, “It was great, lots of energy, lots and lots of energy… I just want to play the next match with even more confidence and energy.” In the next round, the seasoned 39-year-old will compete against Monegasque player Valentin Vacherot, the tournament’s sixth seed.
In another competitive first-round match, American Frances Tiafoe, seeded eighth, secured a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Portugal’s Nuno Borges. Tiafoe, who is currently ranked 28th in the world, set the tone for the match by breaking Borges’ serve in the first game of the opening set. He continued his momentum by breaking serve again in the second set and closed the match after 90 minutes of intense play. Tiafoe is set to face compatriot Aleksandar Kovacevic in the second round as he aims for a spot in the quarterfinals.
In contrast, veteran Adrian Mannarino, 37, faced a challenging match, losing to Japan’s Sho Shimabukuro 6-3, 6-4. The Japanese player is set to compete against China’s Yibing Wu, who triumphed over third-seeded Casper Ruud in a prior match.
In the doubles category, French duo Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul, seeded third, advanced with a 6-2, 7-6(4) victory over Americans Evan King and Australian John Peers. However, fellow Americans Robert Cash and JJ Tracy were edged out in a nail-biting match against Vasil Kirkov of the U.S. and Bart Stevens from the Netherlands.
This tournament is drawing significant fan interest, highlighting the excitement of the players as they strive for success on the court. With veteran talent on display and new faces emerging, the Abierto Mexicano promises to deliver unforgettable moments in the world of tennis.