World quantity two Alexander Zverev suffered a shock early exit from the Mexican Open with a straight-set defeat in opposition to teenage qualifier Learner Tien.
Australian Open finalist Zverev, the highest seed in Acapulco, put in an uncharacteristically error-strewn efficiency as American Tien gained 6-3 6-4.
Tien, 19, beat Briton Cameron Norrie within the earlier spherical and can face Czech Tomas Machac within the quarter-finals.
“I simply went on the market and tried to regulate my facet of the courtroom,” mentioned Tien.
“Clearly I knew it was going to be a troublesome match. To come back by way of feels nice… I feel simply specializing in what I can management and conserving my cool as finest as I can has actually taken me a good distance.”
Tien is the youngest American man to file a victory in opposition to a top-three opponent since Andy Roddick in 2001.
He has loved a memorable few months, reaching the ultimate on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals in December earlier than making it by way of to the fourth spherical on the Australian Open in January.
Zverev is one in all six seeds to exit the competitors within the second spherical.
Casper Ruud, Tommy Paul and Holger Rune all pulled out due to a abdomen bug, whereas Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe have been overwhelmed by David Goffin and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina respectively.
Ruud completed runner-up on the ATP 500 occasion in 2024 however the second seed didn’t make it to the courtroom for his encounter in opposition to native favorite Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez.
“I hoped to beat this abdomen sickness that confirmed up yesterday,” Ruud mentioned on Instagram.
“Hoping to return again stronger in a few days and are available again right here to Mexico subsequent 12 months.”
Rune, seeded fourth, started his match in opposition to Brandon Nakashima however needed to retire whereas trailing 3-0 within the first set.
“Livid and so unhappy on the similar time. Had meals poisoning and was unable to play right now,” Rune mentioned on X.
“Certainly one of my favorite locations is Mexico and I like this match. Completely not the best way I needed it to finish.”
