By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday February 25, 2022
Rafael Nadal saved all eleven break points he faced to knock off Daniil Medvedev on Friday in Acapulco.
Photo Source: Guillermo Sanchez
14-0 – and counting.
Rafael Nadal’s dream start to 2022 continued unabated in Acapulco as the Spaniard fought off Daniil Medvedev on Friday night, saving all 11 break points he faced in the second set to notch a 6-3 6-3 triumph that places him in the final alongside Cameron Norrie at the Abierto Telcel.
It was a sublime series of escapes for Nadal, who fought off four break points while serving at 2-1 in the second set, and then saved another seven while serving at 3-2 to keep Medvedev at arm’s length.
That heroic sixth game seemed to stem Medvedev's tide – Nadal held at love to get to 5-3 then broke Medvedev in the next game to clinch his fifth victory in six meetings with the Russian in one hour and 59 minutes.
The rematch of this year's Australian Open final started routinely for Nadal as he broke for 3-1, then easily pulled out of a 0-30 hole in the next game for 4-1.
Nadal has secured some dramatic victories over Medvedev, namely the 2019 US Open final, where Medvedev rallied from two sets down but fell short in the fifth, and of course this year’s Australia Open final, where Nadal produced his greatest comeback ever, rallying from two sets down in a Grand Slam final for the first time.
The Spaniard also saved a match point against Medvedev as he rallied from 5-1 down in a dramatic third set at the ATP finals in 2019.
It appeared that Medvedev was ready to push Nadal to the brink again tonight as he started to execute his drop shot to alarming effect. But Nadal matched the 26-year-old and elevated his shotmaking to weather the storm.
The 35-year-old improves to 14-0 on the season and he has now won his last nine matches at Acapulco without losing a set. A three-time champion at the event, he will face Cameron Norrie, who defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-4 6-4, in the final.
Norrie has now won eight consecutive semifinals, including at last week in Delray Beach, where he won the title.
Nadal is 24-2 lifetime in Acapulco.
Nadal has won all three contests – and all eight sets – he has played with the British No.1.