A friendship that began years ago finally produced a trophy in Acapulco.
Alexander Zverev and Marcelo Melo claimed the Abierto Mexicano doubles title in convincing fashion, a result that underlines how experience and timing can still dominate the doubles court when teammates click.
Zverev and Melo Seal Acapulco Title
Marcelo has been my best friend for over 10 years now, and we finally won a tournament.
Alexander Zverev
The German and Brazilian defeated Alexander Erler and Robert Galloway 6-3, 6-4 to lift the trophy, executing an efficient performance where they took 72 percent of first-serve points (28/39) and saved two of the three break points during a tidy 69-minute win.
Zverev and Melo first paired in 2017 and have built a partnership that mixes a top singles star with a doubles veteran, producing steady results all season and leaving them with a team record listed at 20-25 on the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
For Melo the victory was another career milestone, marking his 42nd tour-level doubles title and extending his hot streak to eight consecutive match wins after recent success in Rio de Janeiro.
Reflecting on the day, Melo thanked Zverev’s support network directly, saying “Thanks to Sascha’s family, it’s amazing,” while reminding fans that the two have known each other for nearly a decade and that the family presence has been constant.
Luz and Matos Keep Rolling in Santiago
In Santiago, Rafael Matos and Orlando Luz continued their run of form by beating Ariel Behar and Matthew Romios 6-3, 6-4, a match where the Brazilians saved all three break points they faced and controlled the court from the baseline and net.
Their tidy numbers included winning 76 percent of first-serve points and closing out the final in an 80-minute match, another example that strong serving and clutch returns remain the doubles currency.
Luz and Matos have now captured two titles this season, including Buenos Aires two weeks earlier, and their campaign record sits at 15-4, a run that helped them climb to No. 8 in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings.
That pair joined a short list this year of teams with multiple trophies, adding a South American title to their growing résumé and staking a claim as one of the tour’s most in-form duos heading into the hard-court swing.
What It Means For The Season
Zverev mixed singles and doubles during the Mexican swing, dropping to Miomir Kecmanovic in the singles second round before returning three days later to nab the doubles crown with Melo, giving him his first doubles title since partnering with his brother Mischa in 2019.
The doubles success adds a different layer to Zverev’s season as he balances singles ambitions and team chemistry, and the Acapulco result gives him momentum and match play ahead of bigger stops such as Indian Wells.
Melo’s landmark win also brings a historical footnote: the veteran now sits level with Mate Pavic among active players for most tour-level doubles trophies, a reminder that longevity and court sense translate into silverware late into careers.
For teams like Luz and Matos, the titles provide ranking points, confidence and improved seeding prospects, which matters when the draw gets deeper and the margin for error narrows in the Masters and Grand Slam events ahead.
Between Acapulco and Santiago, the doubles landscape looks refreshingly diverse, with veteran partnerships thriving alongside newer pairings, and those who can serve big and convert the few break chances will likely keep collecting trophies this season.
My Tennis Expert will be watching how these teams translate clay-court success onto the faster courts, because chemistry is a funny beast: sometimes it takes a decade, and sometimes it takes a good family cheer from the stands.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
