HIGHLIGHTS:
- Back to wins for Rafael Nadal
- Rafael Nadal won the Acapulco opening in first match
- The Spaniard is aiming for his 91st ATP title and third of the year
The Spaniard is aiming for his 91st ATP title and third of the year, after winning a Slam warm-up competition in Melbourne. Rafael Nadal made a spectacular return to the ATP Tour on February 22, 2022, reaching the second round of the Mexican Open after winning his first tournament match since winning the Australian Open.
The 35-year-old Spanish left-hander defeated Dennis Kudla of the United States 6-3, 6-2 to set up a meeting with Nadal practice partner Stefan Kozlov of the United States in the last 16.
21st Grand Slam championship
At this month’s Australian Open, Nadal set a new men’s record by winning his 21st Grand Slam championship, breaking a tie with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
Scores
In the fourth game, world number five Nadal broke 100th-ranked Kudla for a 3-1 lead and held on to win the first set of their first career meeting.
Nadal took a 2-1 lead after Kudla sent a forehand long to drop the first break of the second set, then held at love to go up 3-1.
Nadal broke for a 4-1 lead and held on twice more, winning on a forehand winner after an hour and 16 minutes. In a dominant performance, Nadal served eight aces and won 36 of 40 points on his serve.
Aiming for his 91st ATP
The Spaniard is aiming for his 91st ATP title and third of the year, after winning a Slam warm-up competition in Melbourne.
Daniil Medvedev, the defending US Open champion who defeated Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final in five sets, started his Acapulco campaign with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Frenchman Benoit Paire.
