ATP Acapulco: Rafael Nadal takes the opener against Taylor Fritz

World no. 2 Rafael Nadal has taken the opening set 6-3 against Taylor Fritz in the final in Acapulco, serving well and delivering a break at 4-3 that pushed him in front. 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. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2TbVj9i