Tiafoe Saves Two Match Points
Frances Tiafoe saved 2 match points to edge Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(9) in a dramatic tiebreak where Kovacevic led 6-4. Tiafoe clinched the victory with a return winner and volley in the decisive moments.
- The second-round match took place at the Mexican Open in Acapulco, an ATP 500 tournament played on a hard court surface. - This victory extended Frances Tiafoe's head-to-head record against Aleksandar Kovacevic to 3-0; however, Kovacevic has managed to win a set in all three of their encounters. - The win breaks a pattern for Tiafoe, who has often struggled in the second round of tournaments over the last 14 months and had only advanced past this stage once in five previous appearances in Acapulco. - At the time of the match, Tiafoe was ranked No. 28 in the world, while Kovacevic was ranked No. 75. - Kovacevic, who achieved a career-high ranking of No. 54 in January 2026, holds a career record of 4 wins and 13 losses against players ranked in the top 30. - At the end of the 2025 season, Tiafoe made significant changes to his team, parting ways with coach David Witt and hiring former American pro Todd Martin for the 2026 season. - With the win, Tiafoe advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
