Top Seeds Shine in Acapulco, Shelton Claims Hard-Fought Victory

ACAPULCO, Mexico — In a thrilling opening round at the ATP 500 tournament on February 25, 2025, American Ben Shelton showcased his tenacity, overcoming Italy’s Flavio Cobolli with a score of 7-6(4), 7-6(4). This hard-fought battle marked Shelton’s first victory against Cobolli after previously losing their first two encounters, a triumph he poignantly acknowledged in his post-match interview.

“That was one I wanted really bad. For me, I won the first set in the first two matches and ended up going down a break in the second, losing the second, and ultimately losing in three sets,” Shelton explained. “So for me, I wanted to fight back there, complete it in two and get off the court.” He will face the winner of the match between top seed Alexander Zverev and Italy’s Giulio Arnaldi in the next round.

In another key match, Norwegian star Casper Ruud, the No. 2 seed, decisively advanced to the second round by defeating France’s Benjamin Rinderknech 6-4, 6-3. Ruud’s victory brings his record at ATP 500 events to an impressive 14-4 since the start of last season.

Ruud stated, “I’m fresh off a run to the Dallas final and looking to go one step further this time. My focus is on claiming my first title of 2025 here in Acapulco.” Despite a shaky start where he lost serve early, Ruud recovered quickly, breaking Rinderknech three times during the match and finishing in just over one hour and 42 minutes.

American Tommy Paul, ranked No. 10, also secured a comfortable win, defeating his compatriot 6-2, 6-2. Paul praised his performance, citing the importance of establishing early control in his matches, as he prepares for a forthcoming duel with fellow American Shelton.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Learner Tien made a remarkable entry into the tournament by besting Britain’s Cameron Norrie 7-6(5), 6-3, in his first main-draw match at ATP 500 level. Tien’s aggressive play and resilience saw him convert five of seven break points, paving the way for a potential match-up against Zverev or Arnaldi next.

Days marked by competitive energy saw Marin Cilic pull off an upset against second seed Alex de Minaur, winning 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. This victory not only secured Cilic his first win of the 2025 season but also marked his first victory over a Top 10 player in quite some time.

“It was a great start for me,” Cilic said. “Even though it was gusty, I was feeling the ball extremely well. I’m just so pleased that I was able to keep that level throughout the entire match.”

The next rounds promise more intense competition as the top players continue to vie for the championship title. All eyes will be on the electrifying matchups as the tournament progresses in Acapulco.