Rafa Nadal is already in the Acapulco semifinals, but he must wait for number one

The Spanish defeats South Korean Soonwoo Kwon in the quarterfinals of the Mexican Open by 6-2 and 6-1. The semifinals of Novak Djokovic in Dubai will prevent him from climbing in the world rnking

Rafael Nadal, second in the world rnking, qualified for the semifinals of the Mexican Tennis Open, ATP 500 tournament, winning 6-2 and 6-1 South Korean Soonwoo Kwon. In a closer game than the score indicated, Nadal saved nine break points and thus neutralized the persistent Kwon, racket 76 of the world.

Nadal broke in the fourth game of the first set and escaped with a 0-40 in the seventh to close a 6-2 win in 36 minutes. The Asian struggled, but could never take the final blow. Grown up, Nadal broke again in the sixth game of the second race to move to a 6-1.

The Spanish player will face the Blgaro in the semifinals Grigor Dimitrov, seventh preclassified, winner by 6-4 and 6-4 of the Swiss Stan Wawrinka. Dimitrov started with a break in the first game of the initial set; the Swiss placed good winners on the right to break in the sixth, but could not close the sleeve in his favor. In the second, Dimitrov achieved a break in the fifth game and secured the pass to the top four phase.

“To be a semifinal with a difficult opponent such as Grigor, we know each other well and be a difficult match; try to be prepared for a battle in which you need to show your best,” said Nadal, who will have to wait to climb in the World Rnking

If he won the Mexican tournament, there will be the possibility that he could return to number one, but the semifinals of Novak Djokovic, current dominator of the list, in the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai will prevent him, at least, until the next Masters 1000 from Indian Wells and Miami.

Local history in Acapulco

On the other hand, the Mexican Rent Zaraza gave the surprise of the day by beating 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to Slovenian Tamara Zidansek, with what became the first player of his country classified for a semifinal.

This Friday Zaraza, 270 of the rnking, will face the Canadian Leylah Fernndez, coming from the qualification tournament, who won 6-3, 7-5 to the Russian Anastasia Potaova.

The China Xiyu Wang, another who won his place in the main draw in the 'qualy', eliminated by 6-2, 6-2 his compatriot Lin Zhu, sixth favorite, and measure British semifinals Heather watson, seventh seeker, who beat the American Christina Mchale 6-3, 1-6, 6-1.