“I will give my 200%” – Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez ready to give it all to crack the sport’s elite
The Mexican just won his first ATP Tour match in Acapulco – he sat down with Tennis Majors to discuss future goals, his idols and competing at UTS
Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez, UTS Guadalajara, 2025 © UTS Guadalajara
Q: You are the rookie player here at UTS. Introduce us to yourself
Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez: My name is Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez, I am from Mexico. I’m 19 years old. My nickname The Lizard–I’ve had this nickname from when I was like 11 years old from all my family and my coaches, it’s a very funny story. I’m happy to be here and enjoying this moment.
Q: What is the story behind the nickname?
Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez: I got the sponsorship with Lacoste. But because I was so small, they said, ‘No, you cannot be a crocodile. You have to be a lizard.’ So they call me like that in Mexico.
Q: What type of player are you?
Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez: I’m a leftie. I try to play heavy forehand with a lot of spin, and backhand flat inside the court. I’m trying to be more consistent – I’m aggressive, but not that aggressive like other players, so I try to be consistent at making a lot of shots in the court. That’s how I play.
Q: At what stage of your career are you?
Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez: One and a half years ago I finished my junior career. I was the first Mexican or central American guy being No 1 in the world (as a junior). I finished the season No 2, I won the Grand Slam in Roland-Garros in doubles, making quarters in all of the slams in singles. And now, I’m doing professional tennis, trying my best – I’m No 340 in the world. I’m trying to improve, and enjoying every moment.
Q: What’s your goal in tennis?
Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez: My goal in tennis is to play all the slams. Make a lot of rounds, have a great career, and that everyone knows me as a good guy.
Q: Mexico hasn’t brought a lot of champions to tennis, it’s not the main sport here. How did you become a professional in tennis? How did you discover it?
Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez: My father, he really likes tennis so he put me into classes when I was four years old. He was happy at the time, and then when the time goes on I was playing football and tennis. But then I chose tennis because I like to compete, I like the feeling to be alone in the court. Everything happens from my hands, and not from other players. So that’s why I choose tennis.
Then, little by little, I was playing tournaments in Mexico, winning almost all of them. Then we decide to travel to Europe to see how my level is when I was 12 or 13. I did pretty good there as well, so that’s when I decided to play tennis full-time.
Q: How and when did you realise you could be very good at it?
Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez: I mean, in Mexico, it’s tough. There are not a lot of good conditions for playing tennis, it’s not the main sport. So, when I went to Europe around 13 or 14, I finished like No 5 in tennis Europe. That’s when I decided that I have a big chance to make it. I knew that I had to work hard, travel, not be with the family.
Q: You told me that as a young player you loved UTS. Tell us why?
Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez: UTS is very fun for the junior players. For me, it’s very different to a normal competition so we enjoy these moments. We like to do different things on the court, you know? Like for the people, it’s really fun to watch, how the players play in a different way to win in these conditions. So for me it’s a really great experience, I think for everyone. So, we’d like to see more of these kind of tournaments in the Tour-level. It’s a great tournament, everyone here in UTS is amazing.
Q: For you, what does this experience mean to you?
Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez: I’m going to take all of this weekend with me for my whole career. Learning from the best, the best guys on Tour. They have been on Tour for long – (David) Goffin, (Fabio) Fognini, all of them, they are experienced guys. You can learn from them, how they play, how you see them in the court. So yeah, for me this is something that’s going to push me for all of the years.
Q: This week, what did you learn?
Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez: These guys, yesterday one was playing, he was practising, but how they practice, they never get out of focus. So that’s something I need to improve on in my own game. He’s always trying his best, never say any word, never complain about anything, just play his best and try to think about what they can do for the next point. That’s something very important in this sport.
Q: What are your inspirations in tennis? Your favourite player?
Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez: My favourite player is, of course, Rafael Nadal, because I’m a leftie like him. I always try to copy a bit of his style of game when I was young. Now I have a kind of big forehand like him. Yes, he’s always my inspiration.
Q: Don’t you think it would be cool if one of the guys were injured this weekend, so you could play on the main court against a pro?
Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez: Yeah I mean I would never say I want a guy to be injured, because they work hard to be here and they deserve it. I want them to feel good. But if by any chance I manage to get on the court and play, then I promise I will give my 200 percent. I will do my very best and I will try to win of course. I will have my chance, and I will try to take it. But if not, I will be here practising and learning from the best.
