By Chris Oddo | Saturday March 4, 2017
Sam Querrey completed his dream run at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco, defeating Rafael Nadal in the final.
Photo: Abierto Mexicano
Sam Querrey became the first American in the 24-year history of the Abierto Mexicano to claim the title by defeating Rafael Nadal, 6-3, 7-6(3). The 29-year-old World No.40 won for the first time in five tries against Nadal, and claimed his ninth title with an assertive, 19-ace performance.
More: Tsurenko Defeats Mladenovic for Acapulco Title
Querrey saved all six break points he faced and won 39 of 48 first-serve points.
He notched the only break of the match in the eighth game of the first set, cracking a backhand return winner, and served the set out in the next game.
In the second set Querrey saved five break points (three with aces) to hold for 4-all, and in the second-set tiebreaker a pair Nadal errors in succession gave Querrey three championship points and a 6-3 lead.
Querrey drew the forehand error on the next point to close affairs in 94 minutes.
Querrey claims his ninth career title, after winning four matches against Top 20 opposition (No.11 Goffin, No.9 Thiem, No.17 Kyrgios and No.6 Nadal). He had dropped his previous seven matches against the Top 20 prior to Acapulco.
Nadal saw his streak of 14 consecutive matches and 28 consecutive sets snapped in Acapulco. He was the tournament’s champion in 2005 and 2013 on clay. The 30-year-old was bidding to become the fifth player in ATP history earn his 70th career title, and he was also bidding to win his first hardcourt title since January of 2014.