Brandon Nakashima and Rafael Jodar are poised to headline the action on Day 3 of the 2026 Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco, both vying to advance to the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 tournament. Nakashima will face fellow American Patrick Kypson, while Jodar is scheduled to take on Terence Atmane as the competition intensifies.
Other notable players including Flavio Cobolli and Wu Yibing are also slated to compete, making Day 3 a critical stage in the pursuit of deeper runs at this prestigious event.
Anticipating the Battle Between Nakashima and Kypson
In the second round, Brandon Nakashima confronts Patrick Kypson in an all-American showdown. Kypson enters this match energized after a career-best triumph over second seed Alex De Minaur in his opening encounter. Coming into the tournament without a Tour-level win in 2026 until that victory, Kypson demonstrated exceptional skill, particularly on serve, as he faced only one break point during that match.
To succeed against Nakashima, Kypson needs to replicate his sharp, focused play. Nakashima, ranked higher than Kypson, has maintained a consistent start to the year with a tournament final appearance and victories in nearly every event except one. Known for a steady, reliable style along with a strong serve that garners easy points, Nakashima is expected to hold serve with relative ease compared to De Minaur, who sometimes struggles in that area. This advantage could help Nakashima manage the pressure and withstand Kypson’s inspired challenge.
Experts predict a tightly contested match, favoring Nakashima to prevail in three sets.
Terence Atmane’s Challenge Against Rafael Jodar
Terence Atmane, who made a significant breakthrough last year by reaching the semifinals in Cincinnati with wins over players like Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune, aims to reach his maiden quarterfinal in 2026. He faces wildcard entrant Rafael Jodar in the round-of-16.
Atmane, a French player, demonstrated aggressive dominance by defeating Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets, showcasing his effective flat groundstrokes on the fast courts. He will look to continue imposing pressure and dictate play against Jodar.
Jodar, a teenager who began 2026 by qualifying for his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open and advancing to the second round, also upset a notable opponent in Cameron Norrie during the opener. Although Jodar’s game may lack explosive power, his consistency serves as a major asset. However, in this matchup, he must take more risks to confront Atmane’s aggression; otherwise, a passive strategy might hand the momentum to the Frenchman.
The forecast favors Atmane winning in two competitive sets.
Additional Matches to Watch at Acapulco 2026
Flavio Cobolli is expected to defeat Dalibor Svrcina in straight sets, continuing his strong form on the tour.
Wu Yibing looks poised to overcome Sho Shimabukuro with a straight-sets victory, reaffirming his rising status.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is predicted to edge past Matteo Bellucci in a challenging three-set encounter, highlighting the depth of competition at this stage.
With several promising matchups on the horizon, the 2026 Acapulco event remains unpredictable, leaving fans anxious and hopeful as the tournament moves toward its decisive rounds.
