Alexander Zverev started his Mexican Open campaign in style, with a comfortable straight sets defeat of Corentin Moutet.

Zverev, playing for the first time since his defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in an enthralling Australian Open semi-final tussle, won 6-2 6-4.

The top seed, who triumphed in Acapulco in 2021, denied Moutet a 100th ATP Tour-level win.

There was no serene passage through for Casper Ruud, however, as he went down 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-1) to qualifier Wu Yibing.

"I think I stayed calm whenever he was giving me a lot of pressure," said Wu.

"Of course Casper is one of the best on Tour to play rallies, and I really had to stay patient and at the same time aggressive."

After a 17-year absence from the event, Gael Monfils returned with a win over Damir Dzumhur.

LA MONF @Gael_Monfils defeats Dzumhur 6-4, 7-6 to win his first match back in Acapulco since 2009 @AbiertoTelcel | #AMT2026 pic.twitter.com/h0E206jnzY

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 25, 2026

Data Debrief: Zverev equals Nadal

Zverev has now won 15 matches in Acapulco, losing five.

The German has equalled the great Rafael Nadal (15-2) for the most match wins at the event since its switch to hard courts in 2014.

Zverev's 117 victories at ATP 500 level, meanwhile, trails only Nadal (121) since the format's introduction in 2009.

Monfils, meanwhile, became the second-oldest matchwinner in tournament history, after Feliciano Lopez (41 in 2023). In fact, he is the oldest Frenchman to win a Tour-level match in the Open Era.