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World number two Alexander Zverev suffered a shock early exit from the Mexican Open with a straight-set defeat against teenage qualifier Learner Tien.<\/b><\/p>\n
Australian Open finalist Zverev, the top seed in Acapulco, put in an uncharacteristically error-strewn performance as American Tien won 6-3 6-4.<\/p>\n
Tien, 19, beat Briton Cameron Norrie in the previous round and will face Czech Tomas Machac in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
“I just went out there and tried to control my side of the court,” said Tien.<\/p>\n
“Obviously I knew it was going to be a tough match. To come through feels great… I think just focusing on what I can control and keeping my cool as best as I can has really taken me a long way.”<\/p>\n
Tien is the youngest American man to record a victory against a top-three opponent since Andy Roddick in 2001.<\/p>\n
He has enjoyed a memorable few months, reaching the final at the Next Gen ATP Finals in December before making it through to the fourth round at the Australian Open in January.<\/p>\n
Zverev is one of six seeds to exit the competition in the second round.<\/p>\n
Casper Ruud, Tommy Paul and Holger Rune all pulled out because of a stomach bug, while Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe were beaten by David Goffin and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina respectively.<\/p>\n
Ruud finished runner-up at the ATP 500 event in 2024 but the second seed did not make it to the court for his encounter against local favourite Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez.<\/p>\n
“I was hoping to overcome this stomach illness that showed up yesterday,” Ruud said on Instagram.<\/p>\n
“Hoping to come back stronger in a couple of days and come back here to Mexico next year.”<\/p>\n
Rune, seeded fourth, began his match against Brandon Nakashima but had to retire while trailing 3-0 in the first set.<\/p>\n
“Furious and so sad at the same time. Had food poisoning and was unable to play today,” Rune said on X.<\/p>\n
“One of my favourite places is Mexico and I love this tournament. Absolutely not the way I wanted it to end.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n