Mexican Open 2017 draw: How will Rafael Nadal fare in Acapulco?

Miguel Tovar/LatinContent/Getty Images
Miguel Tovar/LatinContent/Getty Images

The draw for the Mexican Open has been released and Rafael Nadal will face Mischa Zverev in the opening round.

Rafa, the champion in Acapulco in 2005 and 2013, is seeded second. Jack Sock is the other seed in his quarter while John Isner and Marin Cilic are the seeds in the rest of his half.

Dominic Thiem, Nick Kyrgios, Novak Djokovic and David Goffin all feature in the opposite side of the draw.

Rafa’s potential route to the final:

  • 1st round: Mischa Zverev
  • 2nd round: Pablo Lorenzi or Yen-Hsun Lu
  • Quarter-final: Jack Sock
  • Semi-final: Marin Cilic or John Isner
  • Final: Novak Djokovic

Projected quarterfinals:

  • Djokovic vs Nick Kyrgios
  • Dominic Thiem vs David Goffin
  • John Isner vs Marin Cilic
  • Jack Sock vs Rafael Nadal

The 500-level tournament is played on outdoor hard courts.

View Singles Draw

Rafa’s last match was on January 29, against Roger Federer in the final of the Australian Open.

GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!

31 comments

  1. Really? And there I was thinking you’d said noone cares about novak and here you are writing an essay about him!

  2. RAFAAAAAAA 6-4, 6-3. YESSSSSS👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏😀😀😀😀😀😇😇😇😇😜😜😍🤑🤑🎾🎾🎾💪💪💪💪💪🍀🍀🍀

    RAFA ROCKS

  3. Tomic cites the heat as his reason for retiring from the Mexico Open. Rafa has been in Mexico for a week or more so I hope he has acclimated.

    RAFA ROCKS

    • He’s from Australia for god sake’s …You think he would be able to Acclimate. I’m already to watch Rafa and a trainer is working on him before he even hits one ball! Looks like the knee is acting up 🙁

  4. Nor me maria. Will have to record it i think – unless I go to bed very early and wake up to watch it and go back to bed after it for a bit. Decisions decisions.

  5. Hi Susie , it was lovely to read the way Rafa spoke about his Uncle, no worries there ,that bond is unbreakable. RNF has just gave out the time Rafa will be on court -UK time 1.30am . One for the record button I think Susie, not sure I couldn’t stay awake for that long.

  6. Isner is out, beaten by compatriot Steve Johnson, so Rafa will not be facing him in that projected semi-final.

    RAFA ROCKS

  7. If Rafa does end up playing Novak this week it will be their 50th meeting and I have a really good feeling that Rafa will come out on top this one. In Rafa’s interview to Banco Sabadell he told them about the time he won in Acapulco for the first time in 2005 , afterwards they packed up quickly and we’re in a rush to get to the airport to catch the plane that he left the trophy in the taxis.Four years later he admitted he had lost the trophy and was really grateful when Acapulco’s tournament director made him a replica. Rafa make sure this year you keep it safe and check you still have it when you get on the plane.
    Speaking about his uncles decision he said Toni is completely free like he always has been to make his own decisions and to choose what makes him happy the most . He also went on to say that Toni has 3 children , two of which play tennis and he would like to follow close how they evolve.Rafa said I feel better when people I love are happy, for me it’s okay because before being my coach Toni is my uncle, and my relationship with him is a little bit more special than the one I have with my other uncles. Great news.
    Speaking about his tennis career he said that his priority is not the top of the rankings anymore at his age although if he is that’s great. He will have a schedule that will allow him to get ready for tournaments that will give him the longest possible career, so playing less to preform at his best for much time, trying to prevent injuries. Good luck tomorrow Rafa

  8. But for the sudden and totally unexpected appearance of the Djoker in the pack, Rafa could have won the title. But we’ll see.
    There are some other booby traps as well, Mirsca Zverev is as dangerous as a green snake lurking in the green grass. He sure would have drawn a lot of confidence from his AO match with Andy. But we’ll see.
    Yen-Hsun Lu on a good day can also pull a rabbit out of a hat. But we’ll see.

    As always, we’ll see…….

    hmmmn.

  9. I am so looking forward to seeing Rafa play again. He had such a good start to the year. Obviously we fans wanted a win at the AO, but he played his heart out. Roger was incredible and Rafa was unlucky with one less day of rest.

    • Yes and Roger got lucky there… At any rate it was very very close and I just wish Rafa would’ve had one more day of rest! As much as Roger is the darling of tennis I’m tired of him already…he makes such boring speeches in victory… I will probably catch flack for this but I am really no fan of Roger! I always thought he took the glory away from Rafa … He was always crying when he lost and everybody was sad for him ….Rafa was almost sorry that he won and knew that the crowd was more in favor of Roger winning… I never watched tennis, until I saw Rafa kicking Roger’s butt! Vamos Rafa! Best of luck with all of the tournament that you play!

  10. Rafa good luck your fans love you .all the way with you 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🎾🎾🎾🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸👍❤️

    • I’m a bit sad to hear Raonic has injures (or anyone for that matter) and A. Zverev has pulled out.

      I was expecting for the rematches between Rafa and those two (and Rafa will win the title, of course) but now it seems the final between Rafa and Djokovic must happen.

      I like Rafa’s chance this time. It’s been too long since Rafa last won a set over him, let alone a match – sad but true. So if Rafa can at least make it really close this time, pushing it to the third set or/and tiebreakers, he’ll be fine. He was doing better at Rome last year. Though he lost again, I felt Djokovic was more or less shaken, letting Nishikori push him to the limit, only to lose the title to Murray who he’s never lost on clay to.

      There’ll be plenty of other chances before RG this year but somehow I feel this IS the one.

      Good luck, Rafa! We’ll be with you all the way! 🍀💪🏻🎾🏆

      • I feel Rafa’s chances of beating Nole are good.

        Surely, Rafa’s final run at the AO has given him a boost of confidence.

        He should arrive on court with a renewed energy, both physically and mentally, after almost a month’s rest, post AO.

        Seeing that other lesser players have beat Nole, Rafa must know he can do it, again. After all is said and done, Rafa has beat him 23 times already.

        And who can say that Nole will definitely reach the final? Kyrgios has the ammunition to beat him. Juan Marin del Potro booted him at the Olympics.

        RAFA ROCKS

        RAFA ROCKS

  11. WOW…. I had wondered what happened to Raonic who was scheduled to play Alcapulco; he retired with an injury from the final at DelRay, giving Jack Sock the title.

    RAFA ROCKS

  12. Rafa, just recently you steamrolled over Mischa at Brisbane. Please send him packing again. 👏👏👏👏👍👍👍😘😘😘😘😘

    • Hi Margo.

      ‘m not sure Rafa will double breadstick him this time as M. Zverev must have improved and been more confident coming out of AO 17, plus his brother might have had some useful advices for him. I like him (his AO pressers are insightful and he seems like a really nice guy) so first round or not, I really hope for a good match. Rafa’s passing shots are always delightful to watch but I expect more from his forehand this time, especially after a four-week rest.

      Vamos Rafa! 💪🏻🎾

      • Yes Vy, a competitive match is always fun to watch. Hopefully, Mischa will give Rafa a good workout but I expect Rafa to win by a wide margin. That is what I meant by “steamrolled,” not necessarily “breadsticks.”

        Both his forehand and his positioning will be under heavy scrutiny. I hope neither fails him.

        RAFA ROCKS

  13. Rafa, il va gagner contra M. Sverev et ça c’est la vérité, croyez moi mes enfants.
    ALLEZ RAFA et bonne chance.

    RAFA ROCKS

  14. You will do just fine Rafa , you conquered the younger brother recently so you can take out the older brother too. Good luck Rafa🍀

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