3 players who can win the Mexican Open after Carlos Alcaraz & Cameron Norrie’s withdrawal

By Moti Prakash

01 Mar 2023

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Moti Prakash 01 Mar 2023

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Carlos Alcaraz & Cameron Norrie have withdrawn from the Acapulco ATP 500
Who are the leading candidates to win the Mexican Open?

Taylor Fritz (Getty)

Carlos Alcaraz and Cameron Norrie have withdrawn from the Mexican Open, so who is the favourite to go all the way and win the Acapulco ATP 500 event?

The top seed and fifth seed are out after both these fierce competitors were involved in the final of the Rio Open three days ago. Norrie came from a set down to beat Alcaraz 5-7, 6-4, 7-5.

Even in that final, Alcaraz struggled with a leg injury, but the young prodigy played on and even took the first set. But that was all he could muster as he dropped the next two decisive and tightly-contested sets and lost the final.

Alcaraz confirmed his withdrawal from the tournament due to a slight niggle in his right hamstring. The Spaniard was joined on the sidelines by Norrie, who pulled out due to accumulated fatigue from the previous tournament.

So let’s take a look at the top three players who could take the title. You can watch all of the action with Mexican Open live streaming.

Taylor Fritz

After beating compatriot John Isner 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round, Taylor Fritz will now face Denis Shapovalov in the second round.

The momentum is with Fritz in this tournament because the World No. 5 comes to Mexico after winning the Delray Beach Open less than two weeks ago. Before that, Fritz reached the semi-finals of the Dallas Open.

After winning an ATP 250 tournament this season, Fritz will be eager to add an ATP 500 win to his kitty as soon as possible.

Casper Ruud

Last year, Casper Ruud achieved a career-high ATP ranking when he became World No. 2 and the highest-ranked Norwegian tennis player in history.

However, Ruud has dropped two places now and the Mexican Open is the first tournament he is playing after getting eliminated in the second round of the Australian Open at the start of the season.

The hunger for the season’s first title could drive Ruud all the way. Qualifier Taro Daniel stands in his way to the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Holger Rune

World No. 10 will be looking to put the disappointment of the three tournaments this season behind him and go for glory in Mexico this week.

The 19-year-old became the highest-ranked Danish singles male tennis player in the ATP rankings in January. Now, he is looking for respite after disappointment in France and Netherlands.

Rune lost in the semi-final of the Open Sud de France against Maxime Cressy. In the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament, he was injured and was eliminated in the Round of 16.

Fritz, Ruud and Rune are only the three top competitors, but the game of tennis is no stranger to surprising outcomes. There are other players like Michael Mmoh, Tommy Paul, and Alex De Minaur who pose a threat to the rest of the pack and could cause major upsets this week.