The Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal returned to action with a solid victory in his premiere at the Acapulco (Mexico) tournament, scoring for the ATP and which is played on hard court, after defeating his compatriot Pablo Andújar 6-3, 6-2.
The Balearic, the first series head of the event, did not give too many options to the Cuenca player despite his inactivity since he was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open against Austrian Dominic Thiem.
The world number two, double winner of the Mexican tournament and who aspires to recover the world throne if he adds a third victory, was slow to find his best rhythm, but it was enough to beat Andújar for the fourth time in his career.
He started better and broke Nadal’s first service to get 2-0 and 0-30, but the winner of 19 ‘Grand Slams’ reacted quickly and chained five consecutive games to flip the score and end up taking the first set.
The manacorí continued more seated in the track and broke fast in the second sleeve to dominate the manchego, who could not hold his serve and found himself with a 4-1 disadvantage. Andújar stole a second service from his compatriot before leaving him free to the round of 16 where Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic, executioner of Australian Alex de Miñaur, will be measured.
The Valencian Pedro Martínez, who continues to grow in the professional circuit and who defeated Moldovan Radu Albot by 6-3, 6-2 to meet in the next round with Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka, also qualified next to the first seed. third favorite.
