RICKY DIMON REPORTS ON ROGER FEDERER IN DUBAI, & RAFAEL NADAL IN ACAPULCO TENNIS NEWS

Written by: Staff on 27th February 2017

RICKY DIMON REPORTS ON ROGER FEDERER IN DUBAI, & RAFAEL NADAL IN ACAPULCO TENNIS NEWS

epa05817673 Rafael Nadal of Spain attends a training session prior to the Mexican Open in Acapulco, Mexico, 26 February 2017. The Mexican Open begins on 27 February. EPA/JOSE MENDEZ |

Federer off to winning start in Dubai, Nadal begins in Acapulco on Tuesday

By Ricky Dimon

Beginning a quest for his eighth title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Roger Federer improved to 48-5 lifetime at the tournament with a 6-1, 6-3 rout of Benoit Paire on Monday. Federer needed only 54 minutes to race into the second round of his first event since winning the Australian Open.

The 35-year-old Swiss fired five aces without double-faulting and he fought off all three of the break points he faced.

“I think I returned very well for a first round,” said Federer, who converted four of six break-point opportunities. “I was able to get my second serves in deep, was able to go into the offensive quickly. (I) didn’t have to move that much; [there were] very quick rallies. So we’ll see how that’s going to turn out. But obviously (it) couldn’t be a better first round for me here in Dubai.

“Fans and myself know how special it is for me to be back on the court. It was a nice welcome; very thankful always. I have played here for so many years–seen the tournament grow.”

Roger Federer of Switzerland in action against Benoit Paire of France during their first round match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis ATP Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 27 February 2017. EPA/STRINGER

As for Rafael Nadal, whom Federer defeated in a five-set Aussie Open final last month, he has seen the tournament in which he is currently participating even change surfaces. The Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco was played on clay until 2014, when it switched to hard courts.

Nadal is making his first appearance since the change, but he is 10-0 lifetime at the event with clay-court titles in 2005 and 2013.

Up first for the sixth-ranked Spaniard on Tuesday is a second career showdown against Mischa Zverev. Their only previous meeting came just last month at the Brisbane International, where Nadal cruised 6-1, 6-1. Zverev, however, has to be more confident only seven weeks later. The 29-year-old German recently made a breakthrough run to the Aussie Open quarterfinals, which featured an upset of world No. 1 Andy Murray.

Zverev has soared to a career-high of No. 30 in the world, but he is 0-4 in his last four matches dating back to a Melbourne loss to Federer.