Rafael Nadal is the highest-remaining seed still alive in Acapulco now that Novak Djokovic is out, and the Spaniard will look to go at least one step further when he faces Marin Cilic during Friday’s semifinals. Nick Kyrgios and Sam Querrey are also in action.
(3) Marin Cilic vs. (2) Rafael Nadal
Nadal has no reason to apologize for a favorable draw at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, but based on the respective hands they were dealt it is no surprise to see the Spaniard alive and well in the quarterfinals and Novak Djokovic down and out. Djokovic had to fend off Juan Martin Del Potro in the second round–which he did a thrilling three-setter–before losing to Nick Kyrgios 7-6(9), 7-5 on Thursday. Nadal has not dropped a single set in victories over Mischa Zverev, Paolo Lorenzi, and Yoshihito Nishioka. The world No. 6 is now 11-2 this season (including a runner-up finish at the Australian Open) and 13-0 lifetime in Acapulco (3-0 on hard courts).
Up next for the No. 2 seed during Friday’s semifinals is a fifth career meeting with Cilic, who trails the head-to-head series 3-1. The Croat’s lone victory came back in 2009 in Beijing, which preceded Nadal taking showdowns in 2011 (Australian Open and Rome) and 2015 (Basel) while winning seven of eight sets in the process. Cilic needed three sets to get past both Alexandr Dolgopolov and Borna Coric earlier this week before getting a quarterfinal walkover from Steve Johnson. The world No. 8 owns the kind of game that can trouble Nadal, but he has rarely done so in the past and nothing about his current form suggests he can do it on Friday.
Pick: Nadal in 2
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(6) Nick Kyrgios vs. Sam Querrey
Appearing to channel the same kind of dominant tennis that was on display last year in Marseille, where he captured his first career ATP title, Kyrgios has bulldozed his way into the Acapulco semifinals. The 17th-ranked Australian Open surrendered his opening set of the tournament but has since taken out Dudi Sela 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, Donald Young 6-2, 6-4, and the top-seeded Djokovic. Against Djokovic, Kyrgios fired 25 aces compared to only one double-fault–on a set point in the tiebreaker–while serving at 73 percent and he saved the only break point he faced.
A far more surprising semifinal showdown awaits the sixth seed on Friday, as Querrey emerged from a section of the bracket that included Dominic Thiem and David Goffin. Querrey opened with a three-set victory over Kyle Edmund before knocking out both Goffin and Thiem in straights. The 6’6” American can trade big serves with Kyrgios as well as almost anyone, but a key difference is that Kyrgios has the confidence bring the heat on a consistent basis in pressure-packed moments–just as he did against Djokovic. Not too surprisingly, Querrey was overwhelmed 6-4, 6-4 in their only previous encounter last fall in Shanghai.
Pick: Kyrgios in 2
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OH GOD!!!!!LOVE VINTAGE RAFA!!!!WOOOHOOOO!!!FINAL HERE WE COMES!!!
WOW!!! I have been replaying that one handed cc backhand winner over and over! Even Rafa was excited over that shot! Jumping in the air!
Then another cc backhand beauty! I noticed that Rafa has some DTL backhand winners earlier in the match, but those cc backhands were something else!
Way to close it out!
Rafa is in the final!
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YES FINAL IT IS!!!Hope he will get Querry instead of nick!!!
Yes! Rafa on the mission! Love it!
Clearly subpar Cilic but Rafa was focused and executing his shots so well!!
Vamos Champ!
Rafa has no trouble dealing with Cilic. I don’t understand why anyone thought this match would be close. That’s why I explained Cilic’s one victory in Beijing, there were extenuating circumstances for that loss. The one set Cilic took in Basel in 2015, was the year that Rafa was in a slump and was losing to the world and his wife. This is a different Rafa.
Nny??Where r u??Let me hear u WOOOOOHOOOO!!! this time!!Hehehe…
MA,
I just posted up thread a ways! I am so happy for Rafa! Great to see him in another final!
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Nny!!…https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/66/48/bd/6648bdaeb9db23d0235874ba4271171a.jpg
MA,
Thanks!
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Nny!!Wooohooo!!Sam vs rafa it is!!…although i am very weary of it too…
The two running CCBH winners were simply out of this world! Cilic looked stunned! I’m so glad Rafa at 30 still could produce tennis like this; who says Rafa will be done once he hits his 30s?
Yes, I agree! That was vintage Rafa! I couldn’t stop replaying those two shots over and over, even after the match ended.
It’s a joy to see Rafa still able to make those jaw dropping shots that get the crowd on their feet!
I didn’t see all of Kyrgios/Querrey. I did see Kyfgios have a MTO to get treatment for his arm.
I think Rafa has a great chance to get this title!
Vamos Rafa!
Rafa is in the final! Woot woot! ?
Rafa match’s stats:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C6Coi_rXMAAHb4Y.jpg
Kyrgios OUT.
At a hotel so I couldn’t watch the match. But holy crap Kyrgios loses damn. How did he lose 6-1 second set he must’ve tanked or been way out of sorts. So now nick has never won his next match after beating Nole Rafa or Fed. This was an amazing chance to do so. Wow. He must’ve played a lot worse because his level against Novak had no shot at losing this one.
Saw the match until third set at 2-2 I think. I don’t think Kygrios tanked the match; the second set he made some errors, probably a bit impatient and Querrey served and played well enough to capitalize.
There’s no Rafa/Kyrgios then. Querrey if he serves well will be a difficult opponent so I hope Rafa comes out all guns blazing tomorrow. Vamos Rafa! Go get your first HC title this year and regain all the confidence in your game!
luckystar (AT 5:56 AM),
Kyrgios took a MTO after the second set. He had pain around his right elbow.
Oh ok, but he still managed to get the third set to 7-5, not bad, so no lacking of effort.
Kyrgios’s MTO after the 2nd set:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C6Da_pHWAAAZKUK.jpg
A short video:
https://twitter.com/TennisTV/status/837891213428609025/photo/1
It would be first hard court title since 2014.
Ricky gets seal of approval from Tracy Austin.
https://twitter.com/Dimonator
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