Nadal snares fourth Acapulco title as Norrie falters

British No 1 Cam Norrie lost the final of the Mexican Open to Rafael Nadal in straight sets as the Spaniard claimed his fourth title in Acapulco.

Nadal, who first won the title in 2005 and took it again in 2013 and 2020, stormed through the Acapulco draw without dropping a set, to claim his third straight title of 2022.

The Spaniard has won 15 straight matches since returning from a foot issue that sidelined him for nearly six months last year.

He looked in fine form as he fended off a determined Norrie to wrap up the win in an hour 54 minutes.

"It always has been a very special place," Nadal said of the host city. "The energy that the people from Mexico bring to me is very unique."

Norrie, fresh from triumphing over world No 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas, was the first to drop his serve as Nadal pulled away 3-2 in the opener before claiming the set.

Norrie was broken in the opening game of the next set before he hit back to be a 1-1, but the world No 5 broke him again in the fifth game to go ahead 3-2.

Nadal broke Norrie a third time to take a 5-2 lead, yet the younger man rallied to pull a break back before running out of energy to eventually fall.

"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," said Nadal, who is both the youngest and oldest champion at the event.

"I'm very pleased. It was a very important title for me, so I can't be happier."

Nadal's four titles have him equal with David Ferrer and Thomas Muster as the most successful male players at Acapulco.

Andrey Rublev won his 10th ATP Tour title with victory over Jiri Vesely in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The Russian, 24, ended Czech Vesely's fine run in