Rafa Nadal returns to play as a number one and beats Medvedev in Acapulco

Rafael Nadal levitates at the start of 2022. The Spaniard, champion of two tournaments in Melbourne in January (Open 250 and the ‘Grand Slam’), is one victory away in Acapulco from adding the third title of the course.

Nadal, in the replay of the last Australian Open final 27 days later, again ended the resistance of Daniil Medvedev 6-3 and 6-3.

The Muscovite will officially be number one this Monday in the entry list, but the one who currently plays as the best tennis player on the planet has been his repeated executioner five times, all on hard surfaces,this time at the Mexican Open.

The figures don’t lie and Rafa adds 2,550 points this year in the 2021 Race. The second is Daniil, with 1,675. If he wins in Acapulco, he will be virtually in the Turin Masters Cup (November 13-20).

Medvedev was seen, in a seen and not seen, with a 4-1 against. First change of script regarding the very final of the first ‘Grand Slam’. Nadal knew that the match, the best of three sets, gave him less margin in case he needed a comeback.

Daniil saved his first service game with a 15-40 down. He couldn’t do it in the fourth round, which he gave up with an erratic bouncing volley soon after he died at the net.

The champion of 21 majors forced his rival to be more aggressive and abandon the bottom line because the revolution of his balls pulled him back.

The stands, as expected, opted in favor of the Spanish. “Matador”, shouted the most enthusiastic. The only ‘break’ was enough for Rafa to decide in his favor the initial set.

The humidity forced Nadal to go through the changing rooms while Medvedev changed his wristbands in the change chair with a lost look.

He had no one to complain to unleash his anger because his coach Gilles Cervara was not. His company in Acapulco is his wife Daria and his physical trainer. Cervara joins the Masters 1,000 in Indian Wells. the next appointment of the calendar from March 10 and where the Russian will debut his condition of first in the ATP ranking.

The continuation of the match was more of the same: a monologue by the manacorí, who got a second break in the first game of the second set.

Medvedev had the opportunity to rejoin in the fourth game by having up to four break balls. He didn’t waste them. He raised them his executioner with two serves, a volley and a winning right. And that one of Nadal’s qualities is playing all the points the same, regardless of the pressure.

The semi-final turned into a drop contest as the new new number one pressed to equal three games. He missed another seven breaking balls and his face began to be resigned. He finally got down on one knee.

Undefeated this campaign

With the victory against Medvedev, the Spaniard is only three wins away from the best start to the season of Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. The American and Swiss started 17-0 in 1997 and 2018, respectively.

Rafa will play this Saturday against Cameron Norrie for becoming the third player, after Thomas Muster and David Ferrercapable of inscribing his name four times in the award winners of the contest.

Only Ferrer achieved it on two different surfaces, clay and hard, since the Open 500 went to cement from the 2014 edition. Nadal has already had five finals at the Mexican Open.

Nadal’s rise is not only linked to the titles but also to the ranking. In case of victory this next morning in Acapulco, will climb to fourth place to the detriment of Stefanos Tsitsipasprecisely Norrie’s victim in the first semifinal.

Feliciano, doubles finalist

The Feli López-Stefanos Tsitsipas partnership is beginning to bear fruit. In their first tournament they are already in the final after beating Lloyd Glaaspool and Harri Heliovaara by a double 6-4. The final will be with Macelo Arévalo and Jean-Julien Rojer.