Rafa Nadal’s season is simply impressive and not even two months have passed in 2022. This Friday he showed at the ATP 500 in Acapulco that it will be very difficult to get his hands on him with another victory against Daniil Medvedev, which on Monday will occupy the first place in the world ranking. This time the number one was the Balearic, who imposed his multi-champion stripes to win by a double 6-3 in two hours of a game that had epic moments despite the fact that the scoreboard seems to say otherwise. Accumulate 14 consecutive wins in the best start to the year of his career.
“I don’t know. I’ve played amazing points on his break options in a very exciting second set. He was very aggressive, with dropshots, winners… It was very difficult and I was lucky because he had many options,” Nadal said when asked about everything he was able to solve in that second round. The thing is, he got it and Medvedev, who has a 20-7 record against top-10 players since the 2020 Paris Masters, ran out of revenge. that he longed for after the painful defeat (he has already had five against the Spanish) in the final of the Australian Open and without the possibility of fighting for another title. Yes, Rafa will do it this Saturday, early Sunday in Spain (4:00, #Vamos), against the British Cameron Norrie, winner a few days ago in Delray Beach, who got rid of the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (double 6-4 in 78 minutes). “His level of tennis is high because he has improved a lot since last year and continues. It will be a great challenge, but I couldn’t expect an easy opponent and I’m really looking forward to it,” he warned on the eve of what could be his 91st trophy, fourth in the Mexican tournament.
Nadal came into the match with his homework done and was clearly better tactically. In the first set, he embarrassed every Medvedev serve with constant pressure against a serve that didn’t hurt too much. The Muscovite collaborated with some gifts and committed 13 unforced errors against the three of his rival (he finished with 10), much more focused, active, aggressive and fresh despite the incessant sweat that poured from every inch of his body. It came with the lesson learned from the day before and he did not lack changes or slippers. A break was enough to go ahead in 48 minutes.
great second part
An immediate reaction from the virtual leader of the ranking was expected, but Rafa overcame him with his famous roller in the first two games of the second round. Nadal secured the 3-1 with a lot of effort, patience and quality before the first break balls against (five) after a 40-15. Medvedev improved and put a crazy volley to shorten. He didn’t give up. In fact, he once again had options to nullify the disadvantage by dint of dropshotsalthough his offensive was not enough to break the iron will of the manacorí, who paid him with the same coin and he saved another seven break balls in a great game with 24 points, each one better. The wear had been tremendous and Nadal let the rest go, so as not to suffer again in his next turn of service. He won it blank and then closed the victory in a big way, with a final break. Amen.
Results of the ATP 500 in Acapulco.
