Learner Tien has become the youngest American man in over 20 years to defeat a top-three player after stunning Alexander Zverev at the Alcapulco Open.
The 19-year-old produced a comprehensive 6-3, 6-4, win over top-seeded Zverev in their second round encounter on Wednesday. Hitting 15 winners and converting three out of six break point opportunities. It is the second time this season that Thien has beaten a player ranked in the world’s top five after also getting the better of Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open last month.
“I just went out there and tried to control my side of the court,” said Tien, who will next play Tomas Machac. “Obviously I knew it was going to be a tough match. To come through feels great… I think just focussing on what I can control and keeping my cool as best as I can has really taken me a long way.”
Tien is through to the last eight of an ATP Tour event for only the second time in his career. Last year he reached the quarter-finals in Winston-Salem as a qualifier before losing to Pablo Carreno Busta. The two-time junior Grand Slam finalist is projected to rise to 68th in the live rankings after his latest victory. This time last year he was ranked outside the top 400.
Meanwhile, Zverev has suffered another blow to what has been a disappointing South American swing for the German. Out of his last three tournaments played in the continent, he has only won back-to-back matches in one of them which equates to a win-loss record of 4-3. Zverev was scheduled to speak with reporters following his loss but reportedly left the tournament without doing so and could now face a fine as a result.
In other matches, Ben Shelton suffered a 7-6(3), 6-3, loss to Tour veteran David Goffin, who made his ATP main draw debut back in 2011. Meanwhile, Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina knocked out Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-7 (8), 6-3.
Sickness forces top names out
All of the four highest-ranked players in this year’s draw failed to make it past the second round but three of those either withdrew or retired from their matches due to illness. Tommy Paul withdrew from the tournament due to ‘stomach issues’ and 2024 runner-up Casper Ruud also cited illness as the reason for not playing his match against Mexico’s Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez.
“I’m so sorry I had to pull out tonight (Wednesday). I was hoping to overcome this stomach illness that showed up yesterday and tried everything I could to be able to play tonight, until the very last moment,” Ruud wrote on social media.
“Hoping to come back stronger in a couple of days and come back to Mexico next year. “
Holger Rune did take to the court but only played three games before retiring 0-3 against Brandon Nakashima.
“Furious and so sad at the same time. Had food poisoning and was unable to play today. One of my favorite places is Mexico and I love this tournament,” Rune later wrote on X.
As it currently stands, Machac and Denis Shapovalov are the only seeded players left in the draw.
