World no. 4 Alexander Zverev secured a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the Mexican Open, marking his return to competitive tennis post his Australian Open defeat. With this win, Zverev equaled Rafael Nadal’s record for the most wins in Acapulco since 2014, and he now holds the second-most ATP 500 wins since 2009.
Zverev’s strong serve, including five aces, and effective breaks helped him clinch the first set in under 40 minutes. Despite Moutet’s efforts in the second set, Zverev’s skillful two-handed backhand and consistent net play secured his triumph.
Having faced each other thrice previously, Zverev maintained his winning streak against Moutet, emphasizing his dominance on the court. In a post-match interview, Zverev acknowledged the challenges of playing in Acapulco but expressed confidence in his performance level.
Zverev, eyeing a repeat of his 2021 ATP 500 title, will next compete against Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic, whom he has defeated twice in their three encounters. Meanwhile, Casper Ruud, the 2024 tournament runner-up, suffered an early exit after losing to Chinese player Yibing Wu, setting up an intriguing match against Japan’s Sho Shimabukuro.
