Nadal Continues Dominance, Secures 91st Title in Acapulco
Rafael Nadal’s impressive start to the 2022 season continued with a hard-fought victory in Acapulco, marking his 91st career title and bringing him closer to Ivan Lendl’s third-place ranking with 94 titles. This win follows Nadal’s historic 21st Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open, solidifying his position as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Nadal, who previously triumphed in Acapulco in 2005, 2013, and 2021, battled Cameron Norrie for over two hours, ultimately securing a 6-4, 6-4 victory. The Spaniard acknowledged the challenging conditions and Norrie’s tenacity, stating, “The conditions were challenging, very stuffy. Cameron is a good and smart player, he can put his opponents under pressure. But when he gave me a chance, I took it.”
This victory propels Nadal to fourth place in the world rankings, further cementing his return to the top echelon of men’s tennis.
Bouzková Reaches Third WTA Final in Guadalajara
Meanwhile, Czech tennis star Marie Bouzková is set to compete in her third WTA Tour final after a convincing 6-3, 6-3 victory over China’s Wang Chiang in the semifinals of the Guadalajara Open Akron.
Bouzková, currently ranked 96th in the world, has a history of success in Guadalajara. She reached the finals in the tournament’s inaugural year in 2019 when it was part of the WTA 125 challenger series and advanced to the semifinals in 2021.
“It is unusual that I will play my third final in Guadalajara. I don’t think I could wish for a better place for it. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow,” Bouzková expressed her excitement ahead of the final match scheduled for Monday.
Bouzková will face former US Open champion Sloane Stephens in the final. Stephens, who defeated Anna Kalinska in a hard-fought semifinal match, is seeking her first title since 2018.
The Czech player holds a 2-0 head-to-head record against Stephens, including a victory in Toronto in 2019.
Tournament Updates
Here’s a quick look at the results from other tournaments:
Guadalajara (Hard Court, $239,477)
Singles Semifinals:
Bouzková (Czech Republic) defeated Wang Chiang (China) 6-3, 6-3
Stephens (USA) defeated Kalinska (Russia) 3-6, 7-5, ret.Acapulco (Hard Court, $1,678,065)
Singles Final:
Nadal (Spain) defeated Norrie (Great Britain) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles Final:
López, Tsitsipas (Spain/Greece) defeated Rojer, Arévalo (Netherlands/El Salvador) 7-5, 6-4
Santiago de Chile (Clay, $546,340)
Singles Semifinals:
* Martínez (Spain) defeated Tabilo (Chile) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
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