The Abierto Mexicano Telcel, otherwise known as the Mexican Open on the ATP Tour will swing its way into action on February 25th, 2013 and it will see another title shot for Rafael Nadal. After seven months away from the game following a knee injury picked up at Wimbledon 2012, the Spaniard claimed a Tour title in his second event back in mid-February. In his return to the game he went to the final of the VTR Open in Vina del Mar in Chile, only to lose out in the final there to Horacio Zeballos, an Argentine ranked 41st in the world (who incidentally picked up his only career title there). But for Nadal it was a platform for him to go on and outlast the field the following week in Brazil.
The Brazil Open 2013 in Sao Paulo saw Nadal beat David Nalbandian with ease in the final. That was the first title for Nadal since winning the French Open at Roland Garros in mid 2012. Now the next target on his list will be the title in Mexico, a title he has won once before, all the way back in 2005. The fact that he has gotten to two finals in his two events back does point to a matter of class being permanent, it certainly is with Nadal, but things have to be taken into consideration. Notably the fact that he hasn’t really faced any top quality in the two tournament in which he has played so far. So it can’t be any indicator of how long it will be before he is back to his very best. He could find the going tougher at the Mexico Open.
So that is why, even though Nadal will be one of the front runners in the ATP Mexico Open, there may not be enough value to back him confidently. His body still needs a lot of time to get back to dealing with the rigours of competitive tennis, and he has been sticking to clay only, not only because it is his favourite surface, but because the sliding surface is easier on his recovering knee. So will he have the stamina to grab back to back titles? Well, it will be the toughest field he has faced on his comeback trail and fellow Spaniard David Ferrer will be the biggest hurdle for Nadal in this one.
Nadal’s, Davis Cup team mate is a man in form and has great tournament history on his side. Ferrer has won the last three Mexico Open’s in a row at this ATP Tour 500 event, so should be a stronger option than Nadal. The Spaniard, the world number four, has already gotten his hands on a title too this season and like Nadal, is a clay court expert and will be many people’s favourite even though he is on the wrong end of 16-4 head to head record against Nadal. Some of the dangerous floaters in the Mexico field will be Jurgen Melzer, Nicolas Almagro, Fernando Verdasco (who was last year’s losing finalist at the Mexico Open) and Juan Monaco. But it could all come down to what would be a highly anticipated Ferrer v Nadal showdown.
Mexican Open and more Tennis Betting Events
The Brazil Open 2013 in Sao Paulo saw Nadal beat David Nalbandian with ease in the final. That was the first title for Nadal since winning the French Open at Roland Garros in mid 2012. Now the next target on his list will be the title in Mexico, a title he has won once before, all the way back in 2005. The fact that he has gotten to two finals in his two events back does point to a matter of class being permanent, it certainly is with Nadal, but things have to be taken into consideration. Notably the fact that he hasn’t really faced any top quality in the two tournament in which he has played so far. So it can’t be any indicator of how long it will be before he is back to his very best. He could find the going tougher at the Mexico Open.
So that is why, even though Nadal will be one of the front runners in the ATP Mexico Open, there may not be enough value to back him confidently. His body still needs a lot of time to get back to dealing with the rigours of competitive tennis, and he has been sticking to clay only, not only because it is his favourite surface, but because the sliding surface is easier on his recovering knee. So will he have the stamina to grab back to back titles? Well, it will be the toughest field he has faced on his comeback trail and fellow Spaniard David Ferrer will be the biggest hurdle for Nadal in this one.
Nadal’s, Davis Cup team mate is a man in form and has great tournament history on his side. Ferrer has won the last three Mexico Open’s in a row at this ATP Tour 500 event, so should be a stronger option than Nadal. The Spaniard, the world number four, has already gotten his hands on a title too this season and like Nadal, is a clay court expert and will be many people’s favourite even though he is on the wrong end of 16-4 head to head record against Nadal. Some of the dangerous floaters in the Mexico field will be Jurgen Melzer, Nicolas Almagro, Fernando Verdasco (who was last year’s losing finalist at the Mexico Open) and Juan Monaco. But it could all come down to what would be a highly anticipated Ferrer v Nadal showdown.
Mexican Open and more Tennis Betting Events