Rafael Nadal has hit the practice court and the beach for a photo shoot.
Tomorrow night, the second-seeded Spaniard aims for a picture-perfect start in Acapulco.
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In a battle of left-handers, Nadal opens the tournament facing serve-and-volleyer Mischa Zverev, who upset top-ranked Andy Murray en route to the Australian Open quarterfinals last month.
In a stylistic clash pitting the King of Clay's baseline prowess vs. Zverev's net-rushing aggression, Nadal thrashed the German, 6-1, 6-1, in their lone prior meeting in Brisbane last month.
Since his victory over Murray, Zverev has skidded to four straight defeats, winning just one set—the opening set vs. Grigor Dimitrov in Rotterdam—in that span. However, Zverev did partner younger brother Alexander Zverev to the Montpellier doubles crown and arrives in Acapulco with a career-high rank of No. 30 in singles.
It will be Nadal's first match since his five-set loss to rival Roger Federer in the Australian Open final.
Should the seeds hold true to form, Nadal would face Delray Beach champion Jack Sock in the quarterfinals and potentially third-seeded Marin Cilic in the semifinals.
Uncle Toni Nadal, Rafa's coach, announced earlier this month this will be his last season travelling the tour with his nephew. Long-time Nadal friend David Ferrer said he hopes Uncle Toni will reconsider that decision.
"It did surprise me a bit," Ferrer told beIn Sports. "I am pretty sure he will have his own thoughts and there is still a long way to go this year. Maybe what he thinks now will change at the end of the season. It would be sad not to have Toni on the circuit."
Ferrer said he's encouraged by the revival runs of Nadal and Federer.
"It makes me so happy seeing Roger and Rafa back at their best level," Ferrer said. "They give a lot to this sport and as a fan of tennis, I like to watch them. Besides, Rafa is a great mate and I have played almost all my career alongside him and Roger. So the longer they go, much better."
Photo credit: Guillermo Sanchez