Even Rafael Nadal cannot go on forever, but the indefatigable Spaniard is making a pretty good fist of it.
It is 17 years since Nadal dismantled his compatriot Albert Montañés in 52 minutes to become, at 18, the youngest champion in the Mexican Open’s history. After defeating Britain’s Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday to claim his fourth title at the event in Acapulco, he is also its oldest. Age, it would seem, is no barrier.
The 15th consecutive win of Nadal’s unbeaten season was underpinned by the same signature blend of power, variety and tenacity that characterised the four-time champion’s performances throughout a week in which he once again rolled through the draw without dropping a set – just as he did at the same venue two years ago. He has now won each of the three events he has entered this year, with his latest success following a historic 21st grand slam at last month’s Australian Open and victory at the Melbourne Summer Set. His 91st title, achieved after a notable semi-final victory over new world No 1 Daniil Medvedev, moves him back up to fourth in the rankings. At 35, the numbers continue to stack up for Nadal.
“It’s truly unbelievable to start the year like this,” said Nadal, whose outstanding form is all the more remarkable given that he is returning from an incurable foot problem that decimated the second half of his season last year. “A month and a half ago, no one would have believed this.
“I went through some very difficult moments during the match that I was able to save, and then I took advantage when I had the chances.”
Norrie, in confident mood after winning the third ATP title of his career in Delray Beach last weekend, began the contest by boldly trading forehands with his feted opponent, and came within a snatched backhand volley of earning an early break point. Instead, it was Nadal who seized the initiative. A trio of forehand errors in the fifth game proved costly for Norrie, allowing Nadal to claim the first break with a sweeping forehand pass. From there, Norrie had the unenviable task of trying to keep pace with one of the game’s great frontrunners.
“Rafa doesn’t give you any free points and, if you give him one or two, he takes advantage,” said Norrie. “It is impressive to see how he still does it.”
The 12th-ranked Norrie did at least stall Nadal’s progress temporarily after falling behind at the start of the second set, some doggedly determined play from the baseline breaking a sequence of 16 break points saved by Nadal over the previous two rounds. But a run of four successive games propelled Nadal to a 5-2 lead, and although Norrie reclaimed a break courtesy of some loose play from the Spaniard as he served for the title, the respite proved temporary.
At 5-4, Nadal flicked backed a shoelace-high pass from Norrie with a wand-like flourish of the racket, punching away a volley to bring up two match points. He now stands just three behind third-placed Ivan Lendl on the list of players with the most titles in the open era; Lendl has 94, followed by Roger Federer on 103 and Jimmy Connors with 109. It is testament to his enduring excellence, but the grounded Spaniard is not about to get carried away.
“At the end of the day, I’ve always said that this kind of record needs to be measured once your career is over,” said Nadal. “Today the most important thing is that I have won a prestigious tournament.”
It is unlikely to be the last.