World No 521 Alejandro Hernandez scores historic win on home soil to set up clash against Auger-Aliassime
Juan Alejandro Hernandez defeated lucky loser Nicolas Barrientos in three sets to end a run of 26 consecutive losses in ATP main draws by Mexican players
Juan Alejandro Hernandez at the Los Cabos Open
Image Credit: TennisTV/ TennisMajors
Mexican wildcard Juan Alejandro Hernandez edged out Colombian lucky loser Nicolas Barrientos 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the second round of the Los Cabos Open at the Cabo del Mar Sports Center on Tuesday.
Barrientos came into the main draw after Australia’s John Millman pulled out of the tournament.
This was the first ATP level victory for the 23-year-old Alejandro Hernandez, who is ranked No 521 in the world currently.
“I dreamed of playing against the best and now I’m going to do it” – Alejandro Hernandez
With the win, Alejandro Fernandez ended a streak of 26 consecutive losses by Mexican players in ATP main draws and 49 losses of Mexican players to foreign players.
The victory also sets up an exciting clash against second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round. Aliassime received a bye in the opening round.
“Facing Felix is something incredible, he’s one of the best in the world. I dreamed of playing against the best and now I’m going to do it,” Alejandro Hernandez said as quoted by MSN Mexico.
“I wasn’t used to playing at these big events, but the crowd was screaming confidence at me and remembering and I’m very grateful to them who pushed me even further.”
Los Cabos ATP 250, first-round matches (Cabo del Mar Sports Center, hard, USD 920.625, most recent results first):
- Facundo Bagnis beat Ernesto Escobedo: 6-3, 6-1
- Max Purcell (Q) beat Henri Laaksonen: 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
- Chun-Hsin Tseng beat Nick Chappell (Q): 6-4, 6-4
- Rinky Hijikata (Q) beat Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez (WC): 6-3, 4-0 ret.
- Ricardas Berankis beat Quentin Halys (9): 7-6 (1), 7-5
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