Rafael Nadal maintained his unbeaten start to 2022 by beating British number one Cameron Norrie 6-4 6-4 to win the Mexican Open.
At the end of last year, Nadal, 35, thought he might have to retire because of a foot injury, but has won all three tournaments he has played this year.
The Spaniard won a 21st major title at the Australian Open after victory in a Melbourne warm-up event.
“At the start of the year this was unimaginable,” said the Spaniard.
“A month and a half ago nobody would have believed it.”
Victory over Norrie extended Nadal’s career-best winning start to the season to a 15th victory.
The fourth seed, who beat incoming world number one Daniil Medvedev in the last four, lifted the title in Acapulco without dropping a set.
It is the 91st title of Nadal’s career and a fourth in the Mexican city, having won his first as an 18-year-old in 2005.
Nadal, who also triumphed in 2013 and 2020, is now the tournament’s youngest and oldest champion. –BBC
