Rafael Nadal disposes Nicolas Almagro to reach the final – Abierto Mexiciano Telcel 2013
Rafael Nadal reigned supreme over the 12th ranked compatriot, Nicolas Almagro, in the semi-final of the Abierto Mexiciano Telcel on Friday. He clasped straight sets 7-5, 6-4 score line to put aside the talented Spaniard
and book a date with the defending champion, David Ferrer, in the final.
In an interview at the end of the match, Nadal stated, “I moved well today. I can't say that (my knee) didn't trouble me sometimes, but the troubles are normal. What is most important is I didn't have any limitations.”
World number five, Nadal, started the match at a good note. However, he was grinded down in the sixth game but he did well to hold serve and keep the scores level. The lightning struck on the 27-year-old Almagro in the 11th
game when he failed to hold serve after surviving a similar situation at a couple of occasions earlier. Nadal was tested by the 12th ranked Spaniard in the following game but he did well to close out the set and take a lead that was crucial to stamp
the authority in the crunch contest.
The see-saw battle was witnessed in the second set. Both players met blow-by-blow for the first eight games. Despite a tough play, no contender was able to break his rival’s serve and the scores stayed level at 4-4. It was that
moment when the fifth ranked Spaniard smashed two blistering winners to push his opponent under pressure. Almagro failed to regroup and lost a breakpoint and never fought back in the following game to keep the match alive.
Nadal was ecstatic from his victory and his knee looks good as well. He has won eight matches on the trot now which will give him a lot of confidence when he will square-off against the likes of the fourth ranked Ferrer who is
also the defending champion at Acapulco.
Earlier, the 30-year-old Ferrer defeated Fabio Fognini in a thrilling three-setter. He won the contest 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1. Ferrer has been in a sublime run of form and just took over Nadal in the overall world rankings so the final
contest promises a lot of action.
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