Zverev stunned by Tien at Mexican Open in latest hit to No 1 chances
Learner Tien beat Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday night. He’ll face No 8 seed Tomas Machac in the next round
Alexander Zverev (Chryslene Caillaud/Panoramic)
German Alexander Zverev, the top seed, was stunned by American qualifier Learner Tien, losing 6-3, 6-4 at the Mexican Open in Acapulco on Wednesday night.
The loss is a further hit to Zverev’s chances of claiming the No 1 spot in the ATP rankings while Jannik Sinner serves his three-month doping ban.
For Tien, he becomes the youngest American to beat a top-three player since Andy Roddick took out Gustavo Kuerten in 2001, and the youngest-ever men’s player to win his first two matches against top-five opponents.
Tien, ranked No 83, will play No 8 seed Tomas Machac next.
Ahead of his victory, the 19-year-old American won against Cameron Norrie (7-6 (5), 6-3).
Zverev, ranked No 2, edged out Italian Matteo Arnaldi (6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4) in the previous round of the Acapulco tournament.
Acapulco ATP 500, other second-round results (Arena GNP Seguros, hard, USD 2.585.410, most recent results first):
- Frances Tiafoe vs. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
- Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez vs. Casper Ruud
- Brandon Nakashima beat Holger Rune (4): 3-0 ret.
- Denis Shapovalov (9) beat Alex Michelsen: 6-4, 6-3
- David Goffin beat Ben Shelton (5): 7-6 (3), 6-3
- Tomas Machac beat Daniel Altmaier (WC): 7-6 (3), 6-1
- Marcos Giron vs. Tommy Paul
