• ATP Tour

Nadal and Ferrer to do battle in Acapulco

ESPN staff
March 2, 2013
Rafael Nadal was in good form in Acapulco © AP
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Mexico Open organisers got the final they wanted as Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer came through their semi-finals.

Three-time defending champion Ferrer was made to work hard to beat Fabio Fognini 6-3 6-7(5) 6-1, while Nadal was a 7-5 6-4 winner over Nicolas Almagro.

Fognini was brushed aside by Ferrer a week ago, but he was much improved in Acapulco. The first set went to script, but Fognini matched Ferrer blow for blow in the second and took a tight breaker.

The loss of the set, Ferrer's first of the tournament, sparked the No. 1 seed into life. It needed to as he was forced to save three break points in the first game of the third. Failing to convert jolted Fognini and Ferrer powered through to claim victory in two hours and 23 minutes.

If Ferrer is to win the event for the fourth time in a row he will have to beat Nadal who battled his way to victory over fellow Spaniard Almagro.

Nadal has never lost to Almagro, but the No. 2 seed was pushed hard in both sets and it was a hard fought one hour and 49 minutes of brutal hitting.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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