Gold medal champion getting in tune in Acapulco.
Monica Puig is getting in tune in Acapulco.
The 2016 Olympic gold-medal champion stopped sixth-seeded Maria Sakkari, 7-5, 4-6, 6-0, to reach the Abierto Mexicano Telcel second round for the fifth straight time.
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The two-and-a-half hour grind was Puig's first WTA main-draw victory since she defeated wild card Bethanie Mattek-Sands in her first match of the year in Auckland.
The tournament is a fresh start for the 58th-ranked Puerto Rican, who is now working with coach Kamau Murray, who guided Sloane Stephens to the US Open championship and Roland Garros final.
Puig is also sporting Yonex apparel to go along with her Yonex racquet. She previously wore ellesse.
Photo credit: Guillermo Sanchez
The 25-year-old Puig will plan China’s Wang Yafan in round two. Wang beat Marie Bouzkova 6-2, 6-2. Puig is aiming to win back-to-back main-draw matches for the first time since last September when she advanced to the Wuhan quarterfinals.
An avid dancer, Puig prepared for her first round match partnering Puerto Rican pop star Luis Fonsi to victory in a desert smash charity exhibition doubles match to benefit the Luis Fonsi Foundation.
The "Despacito" singer appears to have serious skills on court.
Photo credit: Guillermo Sanchez
