Follow all the latest off-court action on MyATP. Download the app for iPhone, Android and visit MyATP.com Abierto Mexicano de Tenis Mifel presentado por Cinemex– Los Cabos, Mexico Top seeds Tomas Berdych and Sam Querrey launched the tournament with a hit on a boat overlooking the famous Los Cabos arch. “The view here is amazing,” said Querrey. “There aren’t many tournaments with this kind of setting, so it’s nice to be here.” Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez enjoyed a camel ride on the beach at Rancho San Cristobal. Mexico native Santiago Gonzalez helped out during the draw ceremony. Querrey, Gonzalez, Treat Huey, Scott Lipsky and Manuel Sanchez played two holes at the stunning La Quivira golf course. Fernando Verdasco, Albert Ramos-Vinolas,...
Fernando Verdasco is through to the second round of the Abierto Mexicano de Tenis Mifel but not without an almighty scare. The Spanish No. 6 seed saved two match points to deny NextGenATP player Ernesto Escobedo 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-2 on Tuesday. Escobedo, No. 83 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, channelled his Mexican heritage and had the Los Cabos crowd in his favour as he surged to a 7-6(6), 5-3 lead. The 33-year-old Verdasco then managed to recover from 15/40 - two match points for Escobedo - and reeled off 10 of the last 12 games for victory in two hours and 22 minutes. It was the second time this season the pair had clashed. Verdasco also won their prior showdown...
When you take a look at Ernesto Escobedo’s iPhone tracklist you get a hint a about his roots. He slides his finger across the screen and some of his favourite artists appear: Maluma, Carlos Vives, Miguel Bose, Joey Montana, Luis Fonsi, Danny Ocean, Daddy Yankee, Pitbull. He listens to Latin music because it motivates him, and his level of Spanish allows him to understand the lyrics. There is another hint about his roots. A poster in the stands that accompanies him around the world during his matches says: “Porra Jerez. ¡Vamos Neto!”. It is always held by one of his family members, and it’s written in Spanish. The reason is simple: his parents, Ernesto and Cristina, are from Jerez, Mexico....
Thanasi Kokkinakis made the most of his Abierto Mexicano de Tenis Mifel wild card on Monday and claimed NextGenATP bragging honours in the process when he defeated Frances Tiafoe to reach the second round in Los Cabos. The 21-year-old Australian, on the long road back from a string of injuries, saved six set points to post his first match win on hard courts this season. Neither player broke serve throughout as Kokkinakis prevailed with a 7-6(3), 7-6(10) upset of the No. 8 seed. In the all-NextGenATP showdown, Kokkinakis saved three of the set points while serving to stay in the second set at 5-6 before fending off a further three in a 22-point tie-break. “Yeah it was tough. I think...