Spoiler:
Lopez victorious in past two meetings with Spanish compatriot
Top seed Rafael Nadal is back at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC on a mission to remain within striking distance of reclaiming No. 1 in the ATP Rankings from Roger Federer. But an all-too-familiar foe, compatriot Feliciano Lopez, presents a dangerous first obstacle for last year’s runner-up on Tuesday.
In the opening-round battle between the two left-handed Spaniards, 36-year-old Lopez will bid to record his third straight FedEx ATP Head2Head victory over his more decorated opponent. While Nadal leads the pair’s ledger 9-4, it is Lopez who landed their past two hard-court encounters in ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events – the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati (2015) and the Rolex Shanghai Masters (2014).
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Given the two-and-a-half years that have elapsed since that last meeting, though, Nadal, will read little into it. As a runner-up at last year’s Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, he won’t have the chance to make up enough ATP Rankings points to displace Federer at the top, even if he won his third Acapulco title (2005, 2013).
But it would put the pressure squarely on his Swiss rival’s shoulders when they turn their attention north of the Mexican border where Federer will defend 4,000 total points from clinching the 'Sunshine Double' last year – the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Miami Open presented by Itau.
Nadal is competing for the first time since retiring in the fifth set of his Australian Open quarter-final clash with Marin Cilic. His only loss in Acapulco in 15 matches came to Sam Querrey in last year’s final.
Top seed Rafael Nadal is back at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC on a mission to remain within striking distance of reclaiming No. 1 in the ATP Rankings from Roger Federer. But an all-too-familiar foe, compatriot Feliciano Lopez, presents a dangerous first obstacle for last year’s runner-up on Tuesday.
In the opening-round battle between the two left-handed Spaniards, 36-year-old Lopez will bid to record his third straight FedEx ATP Head2Head victory over his more decorated opponent. While Nadal leads the pair’s ledger 9-4, it is Lopez who landed their past two hard-court encounters in ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events – the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati (2015) and the Rolex Shanghai Masters (2014).
You May Also Like: Anderson Marks Return To Top 10 With A Win In Acapulco
Given the two-and-a-half years that have elapsed since that last meeting, though, Nadal, will read little into it. As a runner-up at last year’s Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, he won’t have the chance to make up enough ATP Rankings points to displace Federer at the top, even if he won his third Acapulco title (2005, 2013).
But it would put the pressure squarely on his Swiss rival’s shoulders when they turn their attention north of the Mexican border where Federer will defend 4,000 total points from clinching the 'Sunshine Double' last year – the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Miami Open presented by Itau.
Nadal is competing for the first time since retiring in the fifth set of his Australian Open quarter-final clash with Marin Cilic. His only loss in Acapulco in 15 matches came to Sam Querrey in last year’s final.
