Dominant Nadal Survives Late Kecmanovic Surge To Reach Acapulco Quarterfinals
The Rafael Nadal freight train keeps on rolling full steam ahead on the Mexican coastline. The world No. 2 took care of business against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic in an hour and 35 minutes (6-2, 7-5) to make the quarterfinals in Acapulco.
This time around, unlike last year against Nick Kyrgios, Rafael Nadal’s Acapulco campaign will not brutally end in the Round of 16.
The No. 1 seed delivered a convincing performance to brush world No. 50 Miomir Kecmanovic aside, 6-2, 7-5.
The 20-year-old Serbian — who already has two semifinals to his name in 2020 (Doha, New York) — had his moments, but Nadal ultimately proved superior.
Kecmanovic felt discouraged right from the get-go, surely, when seeing this crushing Nadal forehand down the line go past him moments before he fell down a double break in the first set…
Vicious 🤯@RafaelNadal with a ridiculous jaw-dropper of a forehand from way behind the Acapulco sign. #AMT2020 pic.twitter.com/SlXqcZ8Xky
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 27, 2020
…and another one later, perhaps even more dispiriting.
Hurts so good 🙌@RafaelNadal with the top-shelf rocket in Acapulco. #AMT2020 pic.twitter.com/NZoBMk9Hye
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 27, 2020
But despite falling a set and a break down, 6-2, 5-3, the Serbian displayed the qualities that make him the world’s third-highest ranked under-21 player (behind Canadians Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime).
Going bold, mixing up bombastic forehands with delicate net finishes, Kecmanovic reeled off 9 of the next 10 points to get back on serve, 5-5.
Not done yet! 💪@MioKecmanovic bringing the fight to the two-time Acapulco champ.#AMT2020 pic.twitter.com/JEBUJjgKBZ
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 27, 2020
Nadal wasn’t in the mood for extra work hours, though, and he concluded the match with another break on a last Kecmanovic forehand unforced error, 6-2, 7-5.
Finished with Gusto 💪@RafaelNadal battles past Miomir Kecmanovic 6-2 7-5 to book the final quarter-final slot in Acapulco. #AMT2020 pic.twitter.com/B1vHy8akgh
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 27, 2020
While he never truly looked his best self in Melbourne a month ago, Nadal appears imperial again this week in Acapulco.
Nadal tonight at #Acapulco pic.twitter.com/TEhaYgqk11
— Bopper (@TheDiddyBop) February 27, 2020
https://twitter.com/Topspin_righty/status/1232906385928675328
In the quarterfinals, the two-time Acapulco champion (2005, 2013, both times when it was still clay) will face South Korea’s Soon-Woo Kwon, with a potential blockbuster semifinal looming against Stan Wawrinka or Grigor Dimitrov.
Quarter-finals @AbiertoTelcel locked in!
🇪🇸 Nadal v Kwon 🇰🇷
🇨🇭Wawrinka v Dimitrov 🇧🇬🇺🇸 Fritz v Edmund 🇬🇧
🇺🇸 Isner v Paul 🇺🇸Who’s your final four gonna be?
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 27, 2020