Rafael Nadal claimed his 91st ATP title in Acapulco, remaining perfect in 2022 and winning all 15 encounters. Rafa defeated Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 54 minutes in the final to secure his fourth Acapulco crown and return into the top-4.
Nadal secured the title without losing a set and continued where he left a month earlier at the Australian Open. Acapulco was Nadal’s 25th hard-court ATP title, becoming the second player after Ivan Lendl to achieve that on hard and clay.
Rafa defeated Cameron for the fourth time in as many encounters. He never lost a set against the Briton in those matches, although he had to work hard to continue that streak. Nadal served at 79% and got broken twice from five chances offered to his rival.
Norrie also played against five break points, failing to save four and finding himself on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
Rafael Nadal claimed his fourth Acapulco title over Cameron Norrie.
The Spaniard had 19 winners and 11 unforced errors.
He dominated with his forehand and emerged at the top despite solid resistance from the 6th seed. A left-handed Briton held at 30 in the encounter’s opening game before Nadal fired a forehand down the line winner in game two after deuce to get his name on the scoreboard.
Cameron closed the third game at love with an unreturned serve, and Rafa followed that pace with a service winner of his own for 2-2. A three-time champion grabbed a break at 15 in game five with a forehand crosscourt winner and cemented the advantage with a service winner a few minutes later for a 4-2 lead.
Nadal took 12 of the last 13 points to settle into a fine rhythm, hoping for more of the same in the rest of the clash. Norrie held at 15 in game seven to reduce the deficit before Nadal fired another booming serve for 5-3.
Cameron closed the ninth game with a service winner after three deuces, and Rafa sealed the set with a hold at 15 a few minutes later for 6-4 in 50 minutes. The Spaniard placed a forehand down the line winner at the beginning of the second set to grab an early break.
Still fighting, Norrie seized the fourth break chance in game two following Nadal’s loose backhand to break back and gain a boost. The Briton held at love in game three, and the Spaniard locked the result at 2-2 with an unreturned serve.
Rafa broke in game five with a smash winner at the net and placed another in the next one to open a 4-2 gap. With everything working his way, Nadal earned the third straight game with a break in game seven to find himself 5-2 in front and serve for the title.
Cameron pulled one break back at 15 following Rafa’s loose forehand and held with an ace down the T line to reduce the deficit to 5-4. Serving for the victory for the second time, Nadal held at 15 in game ten to seal the deal and continue his perfect run in 2022.
