All eight second-round matches in Acapulco will be played on Wednesday, when top seed Alexander Zverev faces Learner Tien. Frances Tiafoe and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina are also bidding for a spot in the quarterfinals.

(1) Alexander Zverev vs. (Q) Learner Tien

Zverev has a real chance to reach No. 1 in the world for the first time this spring with Jannik Sinner suspended for three months and set to miss four Masters 1000 tournaments. However, the second-ranked German squandered the start of such an opportunity on the Golden Swing, where he lost in the quarterfinals in both Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. Zverev figures to get back on track at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, where he improved to 14-4 all time by beating Matteo Arnaldi 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday night. The 27-year-old lifted the trophy in 2021 and was runner-up in 2019.

Up next for Zverev on Wednesday is a first-ever showdown against Tien. The 19-year-old American has been one of the breakout stars on tour in recent months, with a runner-up showing at the NextGen ATP Finals and an upset of Daniil Medvedev en route to the Australian Open fourth round. Tien qualified for the Acapulco main draw and then ousted Cameron Norrie 7-6(5), 6-3 on Monday. Unfortunately for the world No. 83, Zverev is an unbelievable 28-0 in his last 28 matches against left-handed opponents.

Pick: Zverev in 2

(7) Frances Tiafoe vs. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Davidovich Fokina’s last two matches–albeit more than a week apart–have been roller-coaster rides. The world No. 48 lost the Delray Beach final to Miomir Kecmanovic from double-championship point up. He then beat Mattia Bellucci from quadruple-match point down on Tuesday in Acapulco, improbably prevailing 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-2 after trailing 6-2 in the second-set tiebreaker. Davidovich Fokina is now 10-5 for his 2025 campaign, which also features a fourth-round result at the Aussie Open.

Tiafoe stands in the Spaniard’s way of the quarterfinals in what will be a third encounter between the two players. The American leads their head-to-head series 2-0, but both contests were competitive; 7-6(5), 5-7, 7-5 on the red clay of Estoril in 2022 and 6-3, 7-6(6) at the Cincinnati Masters last summer. Tiafoe is modest 4-3 this season after taking advantage of a fatigued Alexandre Muller 6-4, 6-2 on Tuesday night (Muller was coming off a final appearance in Rio de Janeiro). In six previous trips to Acapulco, the world No. 18 has advanced past the second round only once. This is a great opportunity for a resurgent Davidovich Fokina to continue his fine form.

Pick: Davidovich Fokina in 2