Zverev, Cobolli, and Bellucci shine in Acapulco while Francesco Passaro withdraws in Acapulco.

The attention of the tennis world is focused on the ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco, where Italian players Flavio Cobolli and Mattia Bellucci shone, demonstrating that Italian talent is more alive than ever. Cobolli, coming off an impressive semifinal appearance in Delray Beach, faced young Mexican Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez in an exciting battle that ended with a score of 7-6, 7-6. Now, Cobolli is set to challenge Czech Dalibor Svrcina in the round of 16, where expectations are high for another high-level display.

Mattia Bellucci, for his part, celebrated his first victory on the ATP circuit in 2026, defeating Australian Rinky Hijikata, who entered as a lucky loser, with a score of 7-6, 6-3. This triumph marks an important milestone in Bellucci’s career, as he now prepares to face Spanish player Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the tournament’s fourth seed, in a match that promises to be highly competitive.

The tournament’s number 1 seed, Alexander Zverev, had a smooth debut, overcoming Corentin Moutet with a convincing 6-2, 6-4, showcasing his superior form. However, the same could not be said for Grigor Dimitrov, who was shocked and eliminated by Terence Atmane, with a score of 6-3, 6-3. Frances Tiafoe also asserted his strength by defeating Nuno Borges 6-4, 6-4, while Sho Shimabukuro eliminated Adrian Mannarino with a score of 6-3, 6-4. The tournament also saw the elimination of number 3 seed, Casper Ruud, who was defeated by Yibing Wu in two thrilling tiebreaks.

Meanwhile, in Santiago, Chile, the outlook was not as promising for Italian tennis player Francesco Passaro, who had to withdraw from the ATP 250 due to a wrist injury. Passaro, who was in the tournament thanks to a wild card, was battling Paraguayan Adolfo Vallejo when the score was 6-3, 3-3 in favor of his opponent. Passaro’s withdrawal highlights the vulnerabilities that athletes face, especially when it comes to injuries. His opponent, Vallejo, is now preparing for a round of 16 clash against American Emilio Nava, who had already eliminated Matteo Berrettini.

As for the women’s action, at the WTA 250 in Austin, Caroline Dolehide and Peyton Stearns secured significant victories, while Venus Williams saw her run interrupted by Ajla Tomljanovic. Meanwhile, at the WTA 500 in Merida, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Bucsa, and Zhang advanced in the competition, continuing to showcase the caliber of women’s tennis.

The excitement remains high, with the anticipation of more thrilling matches in the coming days, both in Acapulco and Santiago, as players vie for a place in the final stages and for glory on the professional circuit.