Rafael Nadal and Danio Medvedev faced each other again in the main series. This time the course of the duel was not as dramatic as in Melbourne. The Spaniard turned out to be better and would play in the final of the tournament in Acapulco with an unexpected opponent.
Rafai Smolensky
PAP / EPA / David Guzman / Pictured: Rafael Nadal
At the end of January, Rafael Nadal and Danio Medvedev faced each other in the final of the 2022 Australian Open. The Russian then missed a two-set advantage and lost in five matches. They met on Friday in the semi-finals of the Mexico International, and the Grand Slam champion won 21 times again. This time 6:3, 6:3 and thanks to this he has a 14-0 balance in the 2022 season.
In the first set, Nadal did not give the future leader of the ATP rankings any chance (he will beat Novak Djokovic on Monday). Already in the second match, Medvedev was under pressure and it was difficult to keep a pass. After changing sides, he had no chance, because the Spaniard used the breaking point. The Mallorca player was knocked out in the 4:1 minute. He may have increased the advantage, but the Russian managed to win with his own serve. In such circumstances, Rafa had to content himself with the advantage of one break. In the ninth game he developed a fixed ball and immediately closed the first copy.
The second match began disastrously for Medvedev. Returning player Nadal scored his opponent and scored a break in the first half. Only over time the Russians improved significantly. He had chances to return to the match, but the Spaniard maintained his service in the fourth half. The sixth match with a good match decided the match victory. Medvedev brilliantly returned, but the Spaniard managed to save as many as seven break points. Currently, the fifth tennis player in the world saved the pass, and in the ninth match he switched to another attack. The Russian saved the first match, but in the second he sent the ball into the car. Muscovite was eliminated in the semi-finals and now has a balance sheet with Nadal 1-5.
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There was a surprise in the second semi-final. Cameron Norrie played a second match in last year’s ATP 250 final on clay in Lyon. The left Briton beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6: 4, 6: 4. Thanks to this victory, he could win the second championship in a row. Last week he was the best at the Delray Beach Open in Florida. If he becomes a champion in Mexico, he will make his debut in the top ten list.
Nouri played a very good match. There was one break in each group to which the Athenian could not respond. In both games he attacked in the state after 4. In 78 minutes the Briton only had to defend one break point.
In the final on Saturday, he will face Nadal and Nuri. The Spaniard aims to win the fourth title in Acapulco, the third this season and the 91st in his career. The Briton will compete for the fourth trophy on the men’s tour. He will not be a candidate, because in 2021 he lost to Nadal three times (in the Australian Open, Barcelona and Roland Garros).
Abierto Mexicano Telcel, Acapulco (Mexico)
ATP 500, Hard Court, $1.678 million prize pool
Friday 25 February
Singles semi-finals:
Rafael Nadal (Spain 4) beat Danny Medvedev (Russia 1) 6-3 6-3
Cameron Nouri (UK 6) Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece 3) 6-4 6-4
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WP SportoweFaktyMexico Acapulco ATP Cameron Nouri Stefanos Tsitsipas Danio Medvedev Tennis Rafael Nadal ATP Acapulco
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