Machac opens his ATP record at the Acapulco tournament

In Mexico, it's time for the final of the ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco. The two players fighting for the title are seeking their first title on the main circuit.

This is the case for Tomas Machac and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who took advantage of a complicated week for the top seeds to make their way to the final.

The Czech player lost his only final so far in Geneva last year, while the 25-year-old Spaniard missed his first two opportunities to win a trophy in Monte-Carlo in 2022 and in Delray Beach last week, where he had missed two match points before losing to Miomir Kecmanovic.

Solid on his serve (11 aces in total), Machac only conceded one break point throughout this final.

In the first set, neither player wanted to give up their serve, and it was a tie-break that decided the outcome. After missing a set point, Davidovich Fokina saw Machac seize his chance and win the tie-break 8-6.

Stunned, the Spaniard couldn't keep up the pace. On a final backhand error from his opponent, Machac could fall backwards. He has just written his name in the record of an ATP tournament for the first time (7-6, 6-2).

After eliminating Mensik, Altmaier, Tien, and Nakashima, the 24-year-old Czech thus defeated Davidovich Fokina in the final and is guaranteed to break into the top 20 this Monday for the first time in his career.

Despite his efforts, Davidovich Fokina still fails in his quest for a first title but can console himself by saying that he will return to the top 40 in the coming hours, just days before the start of the first Masters 1000 of the season in Indian Wells.

During the trophy ceremony a few minutes after winning the title, Machac had comforting words for the Spaniard.

"I want to congratulate Alejandro, it's a huge achievement to play a final one week and come back to play another one a few days later.

Keep working. You won't win just one title but several. It will pay off. I believe in you," he said to the Mexican audience.