Patrick Kypson Shocks Two-Time Champion De Minaur in Acapulco
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Acapulco, Feb 24 (NationPress) In a stunning turn of events at the Mexican Open, American Patrick Kypson triumphed over Alex de Minaur, the sixth seed and a two-time champion, with a scoreline of 6-1, (4)6-7, 7-6(4). This victory represents Kypson's inaugural tour-level win since his performance at Indian Wells in 2024.
Marking his debut at this prestigious Mexican tournament, Kypson coincidentally achieved this milestone during the week he attained his career-best ranking. De Minaur was returning to the court after securing the title in Rotterdam just two weeks prior.
Kypson dramatically shifted the momentum by breaking De Minaur's serve when the Australian was poised to win at 5-4 in the final set. He managed to secure the match after a challenging duration of two hours and 39 minutes. The American showcased exceptional skill, winning 71% of his first serve points (48 out of 68) and converting three out of five break opportunities, per ATP statistics.
“It feels incredible. Every aspect mattered. I needed to serve and return effectively. My forehand was powerful. Fortunately, I was able to execute those elements consistently,” Kypson stated following his victory.
Having reached a career-high ranking of World No. 103 this week, Kypson has advanced seven positions to No. 93 in the ATP Live Rankings. The 26-year-old was among a group of six players who shared the record for the most ATP Challenger titles in 2025 with four victories. In the second round, he will face Brandon Nakashima, who won against Elias Ymer with a score of 6-3, 6-4.
In other news from the opening round, 2025 runner-up Alejandro Davidovich Fokina commenced his Acapulco campaign with a decisive straight-sets victory, defeating Daniel Altmaier 7-5, 6-3, in just 94 minutes. He will compete against either Rinky Hijikata or Mattia Bellucci in the next round.