Nadal sets up Ferrer final in Acapulco

TENNIS

Rafael Nadal advanced to the final of the Mexican Open early on yesterday, beating fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 7-5, 6-4 in a claycourt slugfest in Acapulco.

Second seed Nadal, who is on the comeback trail after missing seven months due to a left knee injury, will face another Spaniard, three-time defending champion and top seed David Ferrer, in the final.

Ferrer defeated Italy's Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1 earlier in the day.

"I moved well today," Nadal said. "I can't say that (my knee) didn't trouble me sometimes, but the troubles are normal. What is most important is I didn't have any limitations."

Ranked 12th in the world, Almagro, the tournament's third seed, is the highest-ranked opponent Nadal has faced in his comeback so far.

While the former world No. 1 appeared to move well throughout the match, he did visibly limp on his left leg after losing the first game of the second set. But moments later the limp was gone and Nadal, now ranked fifth in the world, jogged to the opposite side of the court as the players changed sides.

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