2020 in Review: Rafael Nadal wins ATP title no. 85 and follows Novak Djokovic

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. Rafa grabbed the 85th ATP title and the 22nd on hard court, lifting the trophy for the first time since the US Open last September and staying in the no. 1 chase with Novak Djokovic, who conquered Dubai earlier on Saturday. Nadal lost only nine points behind the initial shot, taking down the only break point he faced and dominating the rival's second serve to grab three breaks that kept him safe. The Spaniard had the upper hand in the shortest range up to four strokes and toppled the American in the more advanced exchanges to march towards the finish line. 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. The Spaniard faced no troubles in the third game, closing it with another unreturned serve to open a 2-1 lead.

The first break chance for Nadal came in the fourth 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 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. 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 one 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, and was ready to attack Fritz's serve in the next one. A forehand down the line winner gave him two break chances in the eighth game, seizing the first following the American's forehand error and serving for the set.

Rafael Nadal won the 85th ATP title in Acapulco, beating Fritz in straight sets.

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 remain ahead before Nadal secured the fourth game with a forehand winner, losing just one point and looking rock-solid behind his initial shot. The American lost the ground on serve in the fifth game, netting a forehand to offer Rafa three break opportunities.

The Spaniard converted 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 Taylor's backhand mistake to cement the break and move 4-2 in front. A forehand crosscourt winner gave Rafa another break chance 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. The first ace 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/3rvYtUf