Acapulco (Mexico) (AFP)

And one more sombrero for Rafael Nadal: the Spaniard, world N.2, won for the third time the ATP 500 tournament of Acapulco, Saturday, by defeating the American Taylor Fritz (6-3, 6 -2).

Nadal, author of a start to the season below his expectations, with an elimination in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open by the Austrian Dominic Thiem, therefore opens his meter in his second tournament of the year. This success is the 85th of his career.

It is the third title gleaned by the Spaniard at Acapulco, after those won in 2005 and 2013, when the tournament was still played on clay.

"I couldn't be happier. I had a great tournament from start to finish," said Nadal. "Acapulco was the first major title I won in my career, so being able to repeat it 15 years later is incredible. I can't thank the people who make me feel at home here every time."

"For me who had not played since the Australian Open, this moment is important. I played a solid tennis, with the right intensity, the desire and my forehand worked well", summed up 33 year old Spanish.

Winner in 1h14, Nadal was indeed intractable against Fritz, whom he met for the first time, and who still inflicted 10 aces on him. But the Mallorcan was once again imperial in return for service, his strong blow all week.

Fritz, 35th in the world before the tournament, will jump to 24th place on Monday in the ATP ranking.

"Rafael is one of the best players to ever play and he showed me why tonight," he said.

Nadal did not lose a set of the week, and only conceded an average of five games per game. He joins his compatriot David Ferrer and the Austrian Thomas Muster in the club of winning players three times in the Mexican city.

The Mallorcan could have become world number 1 again if Novak Djokovic had not won the same day at the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai. But the Serb triumphed at the expense of the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (6-3, 6-4).

The two rivals are expected to meet in mid-March in Indian Wells for the first Masters 1000 of the season, where Dominic Thiem will put his title at stake.

© 2020 AFP