2020 in Review: Rafael Nadal eases past Grigor Dimitrov to reach Acapulco final

World no. 2 Rafael Nadal advanced to his 122nd ATP final in Acapulco, beating Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-2 in an hour and 43 minutes for the 13th victory over the Bulgarian in 14 encounters. It was Nadal's 19th win from 21 matches in Acapulco, seeking the third title and the first since the event switched to hard court in 2014. In his sixth straight victory over the Bulgarian, Rafa got broken twice and delivered five return games to control the scoreboard. The Spaniard hit 15 winners and 12 unforced errors that carried him home on a humid Acapulco night that prevented them from showing their best tennis. Rafa closed the first game with a service winner, and Grigor repeated that with an ace in game two to get his name on the scoreboard. Out of a sudden, a left-hander hit a double fault in game three to suffer a break at love and push Grigor 2-1 in front. Dimitrov netted a forehand in the next game to lose the advantage before Nadal landed a perfect backhand down the line winner that sent him 3-2 in front.

The Bulgarian wasted two game points in the next one and suffered a break when his backhand found the net to find himself 4-2 down. Nadal fended off two break chances in game seven, staying in front and serving for the set when Dimitrov held at love to reduce the deficit to 5-3.

Rafael Nadal beat Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets to reach Acapulco final.

The Spaniard sealed the opener with a comfortable hold in game nine, finishing the job in just under 50 minutes and hoping for more of the same in set number two. There, Grigor held at 30 in the first game and grabbed a break a few minutes later thanks to a forehand winner at the net, surviving Nadal's two game points to forge the advantage.

The Spaniard pulled the break back with a forehand winner in game three and fended off a break chance in the next one with a mighty forehand, firing another to close the game and level the score at 2-2. With momentum on his side, Rafa placed a drop shot winner to secure another break in game five and held with a service winner for a 4-2 advantage. Losing ground, the Bulgarian suffered a break at love in game seven when his backhand landed wide, allowing Rafa to serve for the triumph at 5-2. From 30-0 down in that eighth game, Nadal won four straight points and moved over the top with a forehand crosscourt winner, securing the final spot and facing Taylor Fritz in the battle for the trophy.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3heywnC