Acapulco
Kypson shocks two-time champion De Minaur in Acapulco opener
Nakshima, Davidovich Fokina advance
February 24, 2026
Mextenis
Patrick Kypson celebrates his three-set win against Alex de Minaur on Monday evening in Acapulco.
By ATP Staff
Patrick Kypson earned the biggest win of his career on Monday at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, where he shocked second seed Alex de Minaur 6-1, 6-7(4), 7-6(4) to reach the second round in Acapulco. With the victory, the American notched his first tour-level win since Indian Wells in 2024.
De Minaur was competing in his first tournament since claiming the Rotterdam crown two weeks ago. The last two times he competed in Acapulco, he left as champion, having captured back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. In stark contrast, Kypson had only earned three tour-level wins, all in 2024.
“It feels amazing,” Kypson said. “Everything was important. I had to serve well. I had to return well. I hit my forehand really big. Luckily, I was able to do those things for a pretty extended period of time.”
Kypson was two points from defeat when De Minaur served for the match at 5-4 in the decider. But the American qualifier held firm to force the tie-break and sealed a hard-fought win in two hours and 39 minutes. He won 71 per cent (48/68) of his first-serve points and converted three of the five break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
“[Staying calm and composed] does not come naturally to me,” Kypson said. “That’s probably one of the hardest parts of playing the sport, just keeping it together.”
The 26-year-old is up seven spots to No. 93 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. The former Texas A&M University star was a part of a six-way tie for the most titles won at the ATP Challenger level in 2025, with four. In the second round, he will face Brandon Nakashima, who eased to a 6-3, 6-4 triumph against Elias Ymer.
In other first-round action, 2025 finalist Alejandro Davidovich Fokina launched his Acapulco campaign with a straight-sets victory. The Spaniard moved past Daniel Altmaier 7-5, 6-3 in one hour and 34 minutes and will face Rinky Hijikata or Mattia Bellucci in the second round.
Miomir Kecmanovic, Valentin Vacherot and Aleksandar Kovacevic were also among the winners on Monday in Acapulco. Kecmanovic cruised past Tristan Schoolkate 6-2, 6-2 to set a second-round meeting with top seed Alexander Zverev or Corentin Moutet, while Vacherot outlasted Coleman Wong 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Kovacevic defeated Adam Walton 7-6(1), 7-6(3).
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