ATP Tournament in Acapulco, Semifinals, Saturday, 26.02.2022
A new men’s No. 1 and a semi-final in Acapulco, which we recently saw in the final at the Australian Open – everyone is talking about the Mexico Open 2022! In the early hours to Saturday, the two favourites will be determined.
Will the new best player in the world make it or will he lose again to the old Spanish champion? Quite a few believe he can take a small revenge. How realistic it is, I will now examine in my Medvedev Nadal tip.
Novak Djokovic loses to Jiri Vesely in the quarter-finals in Dubai? This surprise was also heard in distant Mexico, and for good reason. Daniil Medvedev has reached the semi-finals there.
Many had seen the changing of the guard coming, but now it’s happened: the Russian is the new world No. 1! Since the unvaccinated Djokovic will probably find many doors of the other big tournaments closed, Medvedev will probably make himself comfortable at the top for longer.
In his first appearance in Acapulco, he has not shown any weaknesses so far, but he did not have to assert himself against the very big competition either. He started the tournament with an easy 6-3, 6-4 and then beat Pablo Andujar 6-1, 6-2.
Yoshihito Nishioka didn’t stand a chance in the quarter-finals either, Medvedev won 6-2, 6-3. I wonder if he even rested a little in this match? Only 67% of his first serve came, 36% won points on the second is a very weak score.
In the 1st round against Benoit Paire, Medvedev already showed problems with his serve, nine double faults in two sets is not what one is used to. A few weeks ago in the final of the Australian Open, he only made five in five sets against Rafael Nadal.
The 26-year-old has meanwhile digested the disappointment of the defeat despite leading 2-0 in sets, and now he has the chance to take revenge on the Spaniard. Of course, he knows the record, which, at 4:1, is clearly in Nadal’s favour.
The veteran knows the tournament in Acapulco very well, having triumphed here three times. His first success was 17 years ago, when Medvedev never even dreamed of topping the world rankings.
Nadal last took the title in Mexico in 2020. Did he take a deep breath before his first serve in Acapulco? His actual opponent Reilly Opelka withdrew, having played a final in Rio de Janeiro shortly before.
Against Denis Kudla, much weaker, Nadal got an untroubled 6-3, 6-2 in the opener. Stefan Kozlov, also no benchmark, was beaten 6-0, 6-3 a few days later. In the quarter-finals, too, the draw had a US player in store.
In his 6-0, 7-6 win over Tommy Paul, Nadal at least had a few problems in the second set. He could not maintain his strong service figures from the first two games against Paul.
58% first serve and seven break chances surrendered? This should be an interesting duel with Medvedev, who also weakened here. The Spaniard has already won three finals in his career against the new world No. 1.
But: the only semi-final between the two so far at the 2020 ATP Finals went to the Russian 3-6, 7-6, 6-3.
My Medvedev Nadal Tip
Winning in the semi-finals of Acapulco obviously doesn’t give Daniil Medvedev quite the satisfaction for having to give up the Australian Open title a few weeks ago.
The Russian will serve as the new No. 1 for the first time on Saturday, if that’s not enough motivation! Neither he nor Rafael Nadal have dropped a set in this tournament.
In my eyes Nadal was a bit luckier in the draw, many would have liked to see him against Reilly Opelka. I expect a tough match against Medvedev, but trust the younger player to beat his rival this time.
My tip: Medvedev will enter the final!
