ATP Acapulco: Rafael Nadal follows Novak Djokovic to win title number 85

World no. 2 Rafael Nadal won the title at the ATP 500 event in Acapulco for the third time, beating Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-2 in an hour and 14 minutes for his first success here on hard courts. It is the 85th ATP crown for Rafa and the 22nd on hard courts, celebrating for the first time since the US Open last September to stay in the no. 1 chase with Novak Djokovic who conquered Dubai earlier on Saturday. Nadal lost only nine points in his games, taking down the only break point he faced and dominating on the rival's second serve to grab three breaks that kept him safe, controlling the pace with slices and a rock-solid defense that took power away from Fritz's shots.

Nadal held at love in the opening game with a service winner and the youngster responded with three winners in game two to add his name on the scoreboard, attacking with the first groundstroke and looking sharp on the court so far. The Spaniard had no troubles at all in the third game, closing it with another unreturned serve to open a 2-1 lead and challenging Taylor to do the same to remain in contention. The first break chance for Nadal came in the fifth game after some solid defense with slices that took the pace away from Fritz, squandering it when his forehand down the line finished just wide but getting another one after taking one more longer exchange. Taylor fended off this one as well, wrapping up the game with a forehand winner to survive and stay on the positive side of the scoreboard. Leaving those missed opportunities behind him, Rafa fired four winners in game five to open a 3-2 gap, creating a small chance on the return in the next game before the American took three straight points to level the score at 3-3 with a service winner.

Losing just three points behind the initial shot so far, Rafa held with a service winner in game seven to move in front for the fourth time, seeking more chances on the return in the second stage of the opening set. A forehand down the line winner gave him two break chances in the eighth game, seizing the first following a forehand error from the American and serving for the set in the next game. The Spaniard held at love with a forehand winner to grab the opener 6-3 in 37 minutes, taking a big step towards the third Acapulco crown, the first in seven years. It was important for Fritz to make a strong start in set number two, holding at love in the first game with a forehand winner and hoping for at least some damage on the return for the first time in the match. Instead of that, Rafa placed a forehand winner for a hold at love, dropping three points on serve so far and taking 11 out of 12 after missing the first!

From 30-15 down in the third game, Taylor blasted three huge serves to keep the service game safe and stay ahead before Nadal secured the fourth game with a forehand winner, losing just one point and looking rock-solid behind his initial shot so far. The American lost the ground on serve in the fifth game, netting a forehand to offer Rafa three break opportunities, with the Spaniard converting the third to open a set and a break advantage and stay on the title trail. After seven straight holds without losing more than a point in his games, Nadal faced a break chance in game six when his forehand landed long, fending it off with a forehand down the line winner and holding after a backhand mistake from Fritz to cement the break and move 4-2 in front. A forehand crosscourt winner gave another break chance to Rafa in the seventh game, landing a forehand down the line winner to seize it and move 5-2 up, serving for the title after a break. His first ace of the match at 30-30 earned the first match point for Nadal, converting it with a service winner to seal the deal and lift the trophy.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2PCyadL