(Reuters) – Australian Open champion Rafa Nadal captured his fourth title in Acapulco on Saturday, continuing his good run with a 6-4 6-4 triumph over Cameron Norrie in the final of the ATP 500 event.
Nadal, who first won the title in 2005 and took it again in 2013 and 2020, stormed through the Acapulco draw without dropping a set, to claim his third straight title of 2022.
The Spanish world number five has won 15 straight matches since returning from a foot issue that sidelined him for nearly six months last year. He looked in fine form as he fended off a determined Norrie to wrap up the win in an hour 54 minutes.
Norrie was the first to drop his serve in the contest, as a couple of unforced errors from the British sixth seed and a perfectly executed passing shot from Nadal gave the Spaniard a 3-2 lead in the first set, which he held onto to take the set.
Nadal drew first blood in the second set, breaking Norrie’s serve in the opening game. Norrie levelled immediately for 1-1, but Nadal stole his serve again to move 3-2 up with an overhead smash.
The Spaniard then broke a third time to take a 5-2 lead. Serving for the match, Nadal gave Norrie too much space, and the 26-year-old pulled a break back, but the Briton’s tank was empty and he surrendered the tie a couple of games later.
Nadal is now tied with compatriot David Ferrer and Austria’s Thomas Muster for the most Acapulco titles.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by William Mallard)
