Loco in Acapulco: Mexico's Pacheco claims biggest win of career

Rodrigo Pacheco of Mexico has recorded the biggest victory of his career by beating Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic, who is ranked No. 66 in the ATP Rankings, at the ATP 500 event in Acapulco.

Home favourite Pacheco, who was born in Merida, prevailed 7-5 4-6 7-6(4) in the opening round, claiming his first match-win on the ATP Tour and becoming the youngest Mexican to win an ATP Tour match since 1996. He will now face world No. 5 Casper Ruud for a place in round three. 

World No. 355 Pacheco was a top junior player and reached No. 1 in the ITF World Tennis Tour boys’ rankings in 2023 – the year during which he won the Roland Garros boys’ doubles title alongside Yaroslav Demin and finished runner-up at the ITF Junior Finals in Chengdu.

The 19-year-old was a key member of the Mexico side that finished third at the 2021 Davis Cup Juniors Finals. In more recent years, he has won three pro titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour and contested four Davis Cup ties for Mexico at senior level.

Pacheco is also a four-time recipient of ITF-administered Grand Slam Player Grants through the Grand Slam Player Development Programme, which helps players from developing tennis nations advance their careers.