Vallejo Makes History: Second Paraguayan to Triumph at Masters 1000
In a stunning upset, the 21-year-old takes down Dimitrov in Madrid.
April 23, 2026
Mutua Madrid Open
Adolfo Daniel Vallejo showcases his skills in Madrid on Thursday.
By ATP Staff
In a remarkable debut at the ATP Masters 1000, Paraguayan qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo clinched victory at the Mutua Madrid Open, defeating former World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the second round.
At just 21 years old, Vallejo is now the second Paraguayan ever to secure a Masters 1000 victory since the series’ inception in 1990, proudly joining Ramon Delgado. With this win, Vallejo has risen 12 spots to No. 84 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and will face Learner Tien next.
“This is surreal. It feels like a scene from a movie,” Vallejo expressed. “I used to watch [Dimitrov] and his incredible plays on TV. Now, here I am on the court with him—‘Wow’. This is almost too much to grasp, but I’m just here to enjoy the moment.”
Earlier in the season, Vallejo celebrated two ATP Challenger titles, along with victories at tour-level events in Santiago and Houston. In March, he made history as the third Paraguayan to break into the Top 100 of PIF ATP Rankings, joining the ranks of Delgado and Victor Pecci.
On the other hand, Dimitrov, a previous quarter-finalist in Madrid, is currently struggling with a winless streak since Indian Wells. The Bulgarian veteran holds a 2-7 record for the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
In other matches from Day 2, Pablo Carreno Busta secured his first Madrid win in a decade by defeating Marton Fucsovics 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Belgian Alexander Blockx outplayed Cristian Garin 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, and Fabian Marozsan triumphed over Ethan Quinn with a score of 7-6(5), 7-6(6).
