8th seed Tomas Machac improved to 9-4 for the season with a workmanlike straight-sets win over Daniel Altmaier.
2025 ATP Tour
ATP 500
Mexican Open
Arena GNP Seguros, Acapulco, Mexico (Outdoor Hardcourt)
Selected Quarterfinals- 28th February
Tomas Machac (8) vs Learner Tien
The 26-year-old Czech is a compact, versatile player who seems completely at home in these slightly heavier conditions (he doesn’t mind digging in and playing on the counterattack). The Czech enjoyed a decent 2024 campaign, reaching a maiden career final in Geneva before reaching the 4th round of the US Open (he also secured a first Masters 1000
semifinal appearance in Shanghai). He started this season in memorable fashion, helping guide the Czech Republic to the United Cup semifinals (where he inexplicably withdrew from his match with Taylor Fritz due to an injury). Injuries have become a bit of a running theme for Machac (he has suffered from heel, calf and left-knee issues over the past few months). That could be something to look out for as we approach the latter stages of this tournament.
Learner Tien just pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year, methodically dismantling top seed Alex Zverev 6-3, 6-4. A celebrated junior player, Learner Tien enjoyed considerable success on the Challenger Tour last year (winning three title and reaching another final). But few could have envisaged the impact he would make in the early portion of this season. The lefty was a breakout star at the Aussie Open, defeating two-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev to reach the round of 16. In fact, his victories over Medvedev and Zverev make him the youngest player ever to win his first two matches against top five players! That is a stat that must bode well for the future (Jimmy Connors is the only other American to win his first two top five clashes). Tien has a mature all-court game, switching between aggression and defence seamlessly. He makes clever use of that lefty serve, attacking the backhand wing of right-handed players. He has had issues with double faults in the past but appears to have that under control this week.
The Verdict: Tien to win in straight sets at – This will be their first career meeting. I just can’t look past Tien’s brilliant performance against Zverev. His all-court style seems perfectly suited to the demands of these surfaces. Also, Machac has a history of capitulating due to injury. Machac also struggled in his most recent match against a lefty, bagled by Denis Shapovalov in the 2nd set of their Dallas Open quarterfinal clash.
