ATP 500 Acapulco: Atmane’s run ends in the quarters, Tiafoe powers into the semis

The feel-good run ended one win shy of the semis.

In Acapulco, Terence Atmane saw his week finish in the quarter-finals against a composed Miomir Kecmanovic, who took it 6-3, 6-3. A straight-sets loss, but not a disaster. The week still points to genuine promise.

Atmane falls — but grows

Terence Atmane tried to set the tempo, mix up the angles and speed up his forehand. Kecmanovic shut down the exchanges.

Precise serve, deep returns, few free errors. The Serb controlled both sets with authority. Two identical scores, 6-3, 6-3. No swing. No wobble.

For Atmane the disappointment is instant, but the outlook is bright. This quarter-final will lift him roughly ten places in the ATP standings and, more importantly, give him a valuable confidence boost for the rest of the season.

Tiafoe owns his billing

In the bottom half, Frances Tiafoe didn’t blink. Against Mattia Bellucci, the American used power and experience to close it out 6-3, 6-4.

Solid on serve, aggressive on return, he dictated the pace. No flash, just brutal efficiency.

He’ll meet fellow American Brandon Nakashima in the semis — Nakashima beat Valentin Vacherot in three sets, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. An all-American semi looms.

The semis take shape

In the other half, Kecmanovic will face Flavio Cobolli, who dispatched Wu Yibing 7-6, 6-1.

In Acapulco the youngsters are hitting hard. Dark horses are pushing up the draw. And the Americans are moving in.

Atmane leaves Mexico with his head high. Sometimes a loss looks a lot like a launch.

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