Mexican Open: Fun in Acapulco as Nadal advances

ACAPULCO, Mexico: Rafael Nadal powered into the second round at the Mexican Open Tuesday, breezing past Germany’s Mischa Zverev in straight sets to advance to a meeting with Australia’s Nick Kyrgios. World number two Nadal, playing in his first event since being thrashed by Novak Djokovic in last month’s Australian Open final, was always in control during a 6-3, 6-3 victory.The 17-time Grand Slam champion completed the victory in 1hr 20min at Acapulco’s Princess Mundo Imperial venue, defeating his 76th ranked opponent with ease. The tournament top seed seized the advantage in the opening set, scoring a break to go 3-1 ahead with a delicate lob that left Zverev floundering. With Nadal’s superior variety proving too much for Zverev, the Spaniard quickly wrapped up the opening set.The second set went with serve until the seventh game, when a wild forehand from Zverev sailed wide to give Nadal the break for a 4-3 lead. Zverev hung his head following the miscue, seemingly realising there was no way back. Nadal then held for a 5-3 lead and wrapped up victory in the ninth game, moving to match point when Zverev could only plop a return tamely into the net. Nadal then produced a sublime backhand winner down the line to seal a deserved win. Elsewhere Tuesday, Zverev’s younger brother Alex had little difficulty in advancing to the second round, defeating Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-3.Mexico Open results (x denotes seed):Men 1st rd: Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) bt Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-3, 6-3Nick Kyrgios (AUS) bt Andreas Seppi (ITA) 6-3, 7-5John Isner (USA x3) bt Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3Sam Querrey (USA) bt Guillermo García-López (ESP) 6-3, 6-2Mackenzie McDonald (USA) bt Emilio Nava (USA) 6-1, 6-3Cameron Norrie (GBR) bt Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2Diego Schwartzman (ARG x4) bt Marius Copil (ROU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1Alex De Minaur (AUS x5) bt Nicolás Jarry (CHI) 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/2)Feliciano Lopez (ESP) bt Dusan Lajovic (SRB) 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 7-5David Ferrer (ESP) bt Tennys Sandgren (USA) 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/3)Alexander Zverev (GER x2) bt Alexei Popyrin (AUS) 6-3, 6-3Women 1st rd: Sloane Stephens (USA x1) bt Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 6-2, 6-2, Christina McHale (USA) bt Ysaline Bonaventure (BEL) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2Varvara Flink (RUS) bt Amanda Anisimova (USA) 3-4 abandonJohanna Konta (GBR x8) bt Laura Siegemund (GER) 6-3, 6-2Zheng Saisai (CHN x7) bt Renata Zarazúa (MEX) 3-6, 7-5, 6-4Tímea Babos (HUN) bt Dalila Jakupovic (SLO) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4Bianca Andreescu (CAN) bt Jil Teichmann (SUI) 6-1, 6-3Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU x4) bt Daria Gavrilova (AUS) 6-4, 6-2Sofia Kenin (USA x5) bt Rebecca Peterson (SWE) 4-3 abandonTatjana Maria (GER) bt Martina Trevisan (ITA) 6-2, 7-6 (7/1)Victoria Azarenka (BLR) bt Danielle Collins (USA x2) 6-1, 6-2.

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