Ferrer and Nadal Face Off in Acapulco Finals

Defending champion David Ferrer will seek a fourth Acapulco title as he faces Rafael Nadal in tonight's final. Venus Williams exited the Brazil Tennis Cup in the semis.

By Erik Gudris

(March 2nd, 2013) -- David Ferrer and Rafael Nadal will face off in an much anticipated final at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel event in Acapulco.

Ferrer found himself having to battle longer than many expected in his semifinal against Italy's Fabio Fognini. After claiming the first set, Ferrer was forced into a tiebreak in the second set by Fognini. A netted return from Ferrer gave Fognini the breaker seven points to five.

Ferrer fought off three break points on his serve in the opening game of the final set to hold for 1-0. From there Ferrer broke Fognini and went on to wrap up a 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1 victory.

Nadal met fellow countryman Nicolas Almagro in the second semi. Nadal saved all four break points against him during the match as he closed out a 7-5, 6-4 win.

Acapulco is now the third straight final in a row for Nadal during his comeback to action from an eight month layoff. Nadal leads the head to head against Ferrer 16-4.

The women's final will feature top seed Sara Errani who defeated No. 3 seed Alize Cornet 6-2, 6-1. Errani will meet Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro as she beat fellow countrywoman Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-2, 6-1.

Venus Ousted in Florianopolis

Top seed Venus Williams couldn't hold on to an early break lead in the third set of her semifinal at the Brazil Tennis Cup. Facing Russia's Olga Puchkova, a tired looking Williams surrendered her lead and stayed with Puchkova for most of the final set.

But Puchkova broke Williams and then went on to serve out the 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 win. Puchkova will now face No. 7 Monica Niculescu in the finals. Niculescu took care of France's Kristina Mladenovic 6-0, 6-2 in the earlier semifinal.

Mattek-Sands Reaches Finals in Kuala Lumpur

American Bethanie Mattek-Sands continues her impressive run at the BMW Malaysian Open as she advanced to the finals today.

Mattek-Sands yesterday upset defending champion and No. 2 seed Su-Wei Hsieh. Today the American took out Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4,6-1. Mattek-Sands now seeks her first WTA singles title.

Karolina Pliskova won the second semi 6-0,6-2 over Ayumi Morita.

(Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve)