Frances Tiafoe defeats Japanese player Yoshito
Nishioka and advances to the second round to face Feliciano López in Abierto Mexicano Acapulco
The American player was not at his best, but it was
enough to defeat Nishioka in straight sets. The first set was decided in a
hard-fought tiebreak won by the world No. 15. Despite rushing some important
points and committing a few unforced errors, Tiafoe made an incredible shot at
6-6 to take the advantage and win the set.
In the second part of the match, both players raised
their level and gave fans longer points, but Tiafoe's experience prevailed. The
result was closely contested, but Nishioka could not handle the pressure when
serving at 5-4, and ended up losing in a decisive moment, giving the victory to
the American player with a score of 7-6(6), 6-4.
Nishioka had only a 55% first serve percentage in the
match, but the 24-year-old player had difficulties capitalizing on the
opportunities he was given. Feliciano López achieved his first ATP victory
since Gstaad 2021 and will be Tiafoe's opponent in the next match.