ATP Acapulco 2022: Men’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis, and Prediction for Mexican Open
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Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Nadal
The 2022 Mexican Open at Acapulco will commence from February 21 and will feature a star-studded playing field. This will be Rafael Nadal’s first tournament post his Australian Open triumph.
Tournament Details:
- Tournament: Mexican Open 2022
- Date: February 21–26, 2022
- Number of Entrants: 32 (Singles), 16 (Doubles)
- Venue: Acapulco, Mexico
- Surface: Hardcourt
- Prize Money: $1,678,065
- Defending Champion: Alexander Zverev
Top Seeds at the ATP Mexican Open 2022
- Daniil Medvedev
- Alexander Zverev
- Stefanos Tsitsipas
- Rafael Nadal
- Matteo Berrettini
- Cameron Norrie
- Taylor Fritz
- Pablo Carreno Busta
Men’s Singles Draw Analysis and Prediction
Top Half
Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev will headline the top half of the draw and will have a chance to create history this week in Acapulco. He has a chance to become the new World No.1 if he goes deep in the tournament. He will begin his quest against Benoit Paire and will most likely face Pablo Andujar in the second round. Medvedev is drawn opposite in form Taylor Fritz who opens against Adrian Mannarino. The American could face Feliciano Lopez in the second round and will likely face Medvedev in the quarterfinal.
The second quarter of the draw is probably the trickiest and will feature 4th seed and 21-time grand slam champion Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard will be on his toes right from the word go as he faces Reilly Opelka in the opening round. He will then face either Grigor Dimitrov or another serving giant, Maxime Cressy. 5th seed Matteo Berrettini will face Tommy Paul in the first round and could then meet American youngster Sebastian Korda in the Round of 16. Nadal and Berrettini are expected to meet in the last 8.
First Semi-Final Prediction: Daniil Medvedev vs Rafael Nadal
Bottom Half
Defending champion Alexander Zverev will headline the bottom half of the draw. He faces in form Jenson Brooksby in the first round and then will likely face another American, Brandon Nakashima in the Round of 16. Sixth seed Cameron Norrie will face Carlos Alcaraz in a blockbuster opening round clash. the winner will then face either Fernando Verdasco or John Isner in the second round. Zverev could face Alcaraz or Norrie in the quarterfinal.
Third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas will take on Laslo Djere in the opening round and is expected to face Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the second round. Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta will open against a qualifier and will face either Marcos Giron or John Millman in the Round of 16. Carreno Busta is expected to meet Tsitsipas in the last 8.
Second Semi-Final Prediction: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Alexander Zverev
Semifinals
In a repeat of the Australian Open final, Daniil Medvedev will face Rafael Nadal in the first semifinal. Both Medvedev and Nadal are two of the best players on tour currently and hence nobody will start a clear favorite. Nadal will have confidence given the result they both met a month ago while Medvedev will look to avenge his heartbreaking loss. Expect a thriller with Nadal making it to the final.
Third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas will be up against defending champion Alexander Zverev in the second semifinal. Tsitsipas is currently in better form than Zverev but the German has a better-suited game to the hard courts of Acapulco and hence will fancy his chances to make it to back-to-back finals at the Mexican Open.
Acapulco 2022 Final: Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev
Final
Rafael Nadal will lock horns against Alexander Zverev in the final of the 2022 Mexican Open. Both Nadal and Zverve have won titles in Acapulco previously. In fact, the two of them have shared success in the Mexican city for the last two editions. Zverev has shown it time and again that he can beat anyone in a 3-set match but given Nadal’s recent form, expect him to win a 91st career title this week.
Champion: Rafael Nadal
Also read: ATP Dubai Tennis Championships 2022: Men’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis, and Prediction
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Lakshya Chopra
(2607 Articles Published)