Nadal Defeats Ferrer for Abierto Mexicano Telcel Title
March 4, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Second seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal captured the 2013 Abierto Mexicano Telcel title in Acapulco, dethroning three-time defending champion David Ferrer 6-0, 6-2 for the victory. Since returning from a seven-month absence with a left knee injury in February, Nadal has won 12 of his 13 matches to open his comeback season. He began by finishing runner-up at the VTR Open in Vina del Mar before triumphing at the Brazil Open 2013 in Sao Paulo.
The win in Acapulco marked Nadal’s 38th clay-court trophy, with seven coming against Ferrer. Nadal won the Acapulco crown on his event debut in 2005.
"This was a great week for me and today I played exceptionally well, I dominated the game against the world number four and couldn’t be happier, especially when I think where I am coming from," said Nadal. "Perhaps the conditions were in my favor but I feel it was maybe one of the best matches of my career."
Nadal never allowed Ferrer to get involved, as he claimed the first eight games. The 11-time major champion broke his countryman five times from eight opportunities, winning 58 percent of his return points. He closed out the victory in just 65 minutes to improve his FedEX ATP Head2Head series with Ferrer to a 17-4 mark.
