Top Seeds Fall Ill at Mexican Open: Health Issues Haunt ATP Players

ACAPULCO, Mexico — A chaotic Wednesday at the Mexican Open culminated in a stunning elimination of the tournament’s top five seeds, primarily due to health issues. Norweigan star Casper Ruud withdrew due to a stomach illness shortly before his match against local qualifier Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez, while Denmark’s Holger Rune retired after just three games against American Brandon Nakashima.

Rune confirmed his health struggles via a post on X, expressing his frustrations: “Furious and so sad at the same time. Had food poisoning and was unable to play today.” Fellow American Tommy Paul, ranked No. 10 in the world, also withdrew prior to his match against compatriot Marcos Giron, citing similar stomach issues.

Beyond the withdrawals, the day saw significant upsets with Alexander Zverev, the world No. 2, as well as American players Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, suffering shocking defeats. Zverev’s loss to the young American Tien marks another milestone for the 19-year-old, who previously defeated a top-ranked player earlier this year.

Despite being considerably taller and dominating in serve, Zverev failed to take control of the match, losing with a score of 6-3, 6-4, while racking up 18 unforced errors. “It’s a bit frustrating to not be able to find the rhythm,” Zverev commented post-match. “I felt like I had opportunities but let them slip away.”

Belgian veteran David Goffin also upset Shelton, winning 7-6(3), 6-3, and noted in his post-match remarks that the illness circulating should not overshadow the performances of the players remaining. “Even if some players were sick, every opponent is hard to beat,” Goffin stated, emphasizing the unpredictability of the tournament.

Tiafoe, the No. 7 seed, faced Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, ultimately losing in a three-set match, 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3. These unexpected results leave the tournament wide open for the few remaining seeded players, including No. 8 Tomas Machac and No. 9 Denis Shapovalov, who both avoided early exits.

As the affected players recuperate, attention turns towards the upcoming ATP 1,000 event at Indian Wells, California, starting next week. Ruud, in particular, will need to be cautious, having battled health issues last year after a parasitic infection at the French Open left him drastically underperforming. The quarterfinals for the Mexican Open are set for Thursday, promising more excitement as the top players recover.