Rafael Nadal beats Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-3 in Acapulco ATP 500 semi-final, faces Cameron Norrie in final

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No epic turnaround this time around. Rafael Nadal got the better of Daniil Medvedev, like in the final of the last Australian Open, in the night from Friday to Saturday, French time, i.e. in the dampness of the late evening in Mexico. But the man with 21 Grand Slam singles titles did not have to make a spectacular Melbourne-style comeback. He dominated this semi-final of the ATP 500 in Acapulco with aplomb from the first set.

Guaranteed to access the throne of the ATP rankings since Novak Djokovic’s loss to Jiri Vesely, from the quarter-finals on Thursday in Dubai, Daniil Medvedev did not play up to this rank at the start of the match. Faced with a Nadal who entered the game very well – like the passing which allowed him to pocket the first game – the 26-year-old Russian player multiplied the approximations (14 unforced errors at 3, 16 winning shots at 9). A slight jump in the fifth game didn’t change anything: 6-3 in 47 minutes.

11 HOURS AGO

Two sets at the antipodes

The rate will be the same for the second round. But Nadal is going to administer it in a very different way. The fault of a Medvedev still struggling to serve (7 double faults in total) but found in the exchange. Thanks to cushioning well felt, often, and superbly adjusted, sometimes, the future world N.1 has regained the hair of the beast. While he had no break point in the first set, he got eleven in this second round, including seven in the same game. Problem: he did not convert any.

Nadal clenched the game with class and punched with rage. It’s an intense duel that has become close to the one delivered a few weeks ago in Australia which therefore gave birth to success in two hours for the Mallorcan (6-3, 6-3). At the height of his 35 years, he made an immaculate start to the season like he had never known: 14 wins, 0 losses. This Saturday, he will aim for a third title in 2022. It will be against Cameron Norrie, who created the surprise against Stefanos Tsitsipas (6-4, 6-4), in the first half.

The angry question: would Medvedev make a credible world No. 1?

14 HOURS AGO

16 HOURS AGO

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