McDonald avoids Galán’s comeback in Houston | ATP Tour

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McDonald avoids Galán’s comeback in Houston

The American achieves his first clay victory since 2022

April 02, 2025

Mackenzie McDonald has cut on Tuesday an extensive streak without victories in battered land at the ATP Tour. All thanks to winning 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-4 to Colombian Daniel Galán in the first round of Fayez Sarofim & Co. Us Men’s Clay Court Championship.

The American did not win in clay from Roland Garros 2022, when he was No. 60 of the world and defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili. From there, he accumulated nine consecutive losses in Tour Tour Tournaments on clay.

And it was not easy to avoid the tenth before a player who had already been semifinalist of this event (2019). Once he recovered the domain in the decisive, he had to strive to close after wasting two match points with his return in 5-3.

In addition, he faced a Break Point in the next game that saved with a winning shot. In his next Match Point, he did not speculate and stayed with the victory at two hours and 15 minutes of play.

A R2 🙌@mackiemacster He took the battle against Galán 6-2 6-7 (3) 6-4.@mensclaycourt | #USClaypic.twitter.com/hhjkAa7Xa4

– ATP Tour en Español (@atppour_es) April 1, 2025

The No. 100 of the PIF ATP Rankings will now measure a compatriot: Brandon Nakashima, a preclassified room of the tournament. McDonald leads 4-0 the Lexus ATP Headtohead thanks to prevailing in Atlanta 2024, Acapulco 2023, Australia 2023 and Cincinnati 2021.

In other results of the day, the local Ethan Quinn, invited by the organization, surprised the sixth preclassified, the Australian Jordan Thompson, overcoming it 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. His next opponent will be his compatriot Colton Smith, who beat James Duckworth 6-2, 6-2.

In addition, the Australian Adam Walton defeated 6-3, 7-6 (5) to the local Michael Mmoh and became the first rival of the American Frances Tiafoe, second preclassified and champion of the tournament in 2023.