REIGN OF SPAIN: FERRER TRIUMPHS IN ACAPULCO, NADAL SNAGS BUENOS AIRES TITLE BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 1st March 2015

REIGN OF SPAIN: FERRER TRIUMPHS IN ACAPULCO, NADAL SNAGS BUENOS AIRES TITLE BY RICKY DIMON

epa04642592 David Ferrer of Spain kisses his trophy after his win over Japanese Kei Nishikori in the Mexican Open final played in Acapulco, Mexico, 28 February 2015. EPA/JOSE MENDEZ |

Spain will not be in Davis Cup World Group action next week after being unceremoniously bounced out of last year’s playoffs. But the nation’s two best players did it proud this weekend on the ATP Tour. One day after David Ferrer captured the Abierto Mexicano Telcel title, Rafael Nadal lifted the Argentina Open trophy.

Ferrer, who plunged from No. 5 to No. 10 in the world last fall, is positively on fire at 32 years old. He is 18-1 this season with three title in just two months (Doha, Rio de Janeiro, and now Acapulco). Ferrer’s Acapulco campaign included a double-bagel of Ryan Harrison after dropping the first set and culminated in a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Kei Nishikori–who will climb to fourth in the rankings on Monday.

With his fourth career triumph in Acapulco (first on hard courts), Ferrer will rise to No. 8 in the world and to No. 3 in the Race to London.

“I played my best match this week (in the final),” the second seed commented. “For sure. I played very aggressive, without mistakes. I’m very happy. To win here a fourth time is a dream.

“I tried to play my forehand to his forehand and with more energy. In important moments, [Nishikori] made more mistakes and I took my chances. I feel very confident with my tennis now. I’ve won three tournaments this year and we’ve only [just begun] the season.”

Nadal’s title was his first of the year–and first in approximately nine months since he won the French Open. The 14-time Grand Slam champion had little trouble in Buenos Aires aside from a brief 6-1 deficit in the first-set tiebreaker of his semifinal against Carlos Berlocq. Nadal scoffed in the face of that daunting task and ended up refusing to lose a single set the entire week.

The top seed capped off his run in style with a 6-4, 6-1 defeat of doubles partner and good friend Juan Monaco on Sunday afternoon.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Spanish Rafael Nadal returns a ball against Argentine Juan Monaco during the final of the ATP Buenos Aires, Argentina, 01 March 2015. EPA/Juan Ignacio Roncoroni

Spanish Rafael Nadal celebrates after defeating Argentine Juan Monaco at the final of ATP Buenos Aires, Argentina, 01 March 2015. EPA/Juan Ignacio Roncoroni

Spanish Rafael Nadal poses with the trophy champion of ATP Buenos Aires after defeating Argentine Juan Monaco at the final in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 01 March 2015. EPA/Juan Ignacio Roncoroni

Topics: Abierto Mexicano Telcel, Acapulco, Argentina Open, Atp, Buenos Aires, David Ferrer, Rafa Nadal, Ricky Dimon, Spain, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

March 1, 2015 at 4:29 pm

REIGN OF #SPAIN: @DavidFerrer87 TRIUMPHS IN #ACAPULCO, @RafaelNadal SNAGS #BuenosAires TITLE BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/AlBc6qqwRG #tennis
Dimonator says:

March 1, 2015 at 4:35 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: REIGN OF #SPAIN: @DavidFerrer87 TRIUMPHS IN #ACAPULCO, @RafaelNadal SNAGS #BuenosAires TITLE BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/A…
bellezzavitale says:

March 1, 2015 at 4:35 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: REIGN OF #SPAIN: @DavidFerrer87 TRIUMPHS IN #ACAPULCO, @RafaelNadal SNAGS #BuenosAires TITLE BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/A…