Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez: inspired by Nadal, dreams of facing Sinner, Mexico's tennis answer?

At UTS Guadalajara two weekends ago, Mexico’s own Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez served as the alternate for the eight-man field. It was an ideal springboard for this week’s ATP 500 event in Acapulco, as the opportunity afforded him daily hitting sessions with players like eventual winner Tomas Machac.

The first player from the Central American and Caribbean Tennis Confederation (COTECC) to reach No. 1 since the ITF junior rankings were combined in 2004, Pacheco Mendez is now in the early stages of his professional career. While he has personal ambitions like anyone would, the 19-year-old also hopes to be someone who can move the needle for his nation.

“I want to see kids becoming really good tennis players. I want to help if I can,” he told my colleague Kyle MacLelland during our interview at the Panamerican Tennis Center.

On Tuesday night, Pacheco Mendez just might have inspired a few more kids to pick up racquets. Taking on Aleksandar Vukic, the left-hander dazzled on the Grandstand of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel with a memorable maiden ATP Tour win.

Pacheco Mendez battled to a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (4) victory in three hours and two minutes for his best-career win by ranking (Vukic came in as the world No. 66). An opportunity to test his level against a Top 5 opponent is the wild card’s reward in No. 2 seed Casper Ruud.

I would like to finish Top 200, starting next year playing qualies of the Slams. That would be a good goal. Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez

A Beginner’s Guide to Pacheco Mendez, in his own words:

Tennis Origins

“I started to play tennis because my dad is a very (big) fan. I took some classes and I start to like it a bit more and more.”

Idol Is No Surprise

“Since I was a kid, I really liked to watch Rafa Nadal because I’m lefty like him. His tennis style is unbelievable. I just tried to copy a bit of him. I had a dream to be like him. I met him in Acapulco two years ago. It was his last Acapulco tournament. The feeling, I remember my heart stopped because it was like a dream to see him.”

Defining His Game

“I think I am more like a solid guy. I like to hit forehand and backhand from the baseline, making a lot of balls. I like to do long rallies, a consistent player.”

Sparring With The Best

“I was lucky to hit with Medvedev, Fritz, Berrettini in Acapulco (before). You need to be very focused during all the training. They aren’t going to miss. They are always preparing for tournaments, so they want to do really good training. When I step in the court, I try to do my best and improve.”

Tennis Landscape Inside Home Borders

“It’s been tough for Mexican fans in tennis because we cannot see a lot of players. I train in the south, because it’s sea level. That’s very important in tennis. Most of the places here in Mexico, it’s very high altitude. For development, it’s very hard. The players need to travel to Merida or Cancun or in the north to Los Cabos to train. A lot of very good coaches in Mexico, they have very good offers in the U.S. We have a lot of talent when we are like 10 or 12, and somehow, I don't know, then it stops. That’s my point of view. I love Mexico, I want to see kids becoming really good tennis players. I want to help if I can. I like to train here to see my family.”

The Love Is Returned

“The people, they like to feel the energy in the court. They like the atmosphere, to shout and scream. They live the moment. Here in Mexico, the passion is very high for everything, as well in South America and Latin America. Everything is kind of like a party. I think the players like it because it feels like a good place to be.”

Player He Wants To Face

“My dream match is against Sinner because now he’s No. 1 and playing unreal. I want to see how he destroy me (laughter).”

They live the moment. Here in Mexico, the passion is very high for everything, as well in South America and Latin America. Everything is kind of like a party. Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez

Must-Listen Track

“I like to sing Luis Miguel. ‘La Bikina’, I really like it because it’s a Mexican song and I feel it.”

Targets For 2025

“I would like to finish Top 200, starting next year playing qualies of the Slams. That would be a good goal. Now, focusing on the Mexican tournaments. We have Acapulco and then five Challengers in a row. This part of the year is very important to me. I try to play my best and make good opportunities for climbing the ranking.”