Rafael Nadal has arrived in another one of his best moments in Acapulco.

After resting following the final in Australia and not competing in more tournaments, in Acapulco he has shown the version closest to the ideal, lacking only to face rivals of greater hierarchy in the tournament.

The victim of Rafa in the second round of the Mexican Open was the veteran Italian Paolo Lorenzi, who fell in less than an hour by a resounding double 6-1.

"I feel good, excited to compete again in a place where I feel very loved, it's always special to play in front of a crowd that cheers for you, supports you, and I played at a good level, made few mistakes, otherwise you can't beat a player who is ranked among the top 40 in the world the way I did, so very happy," he said in a press conference.

Regarding the first-round match against German Mischa Zverev, the tournament's second seed was more aggressive, cut the court and showed off his best forehand shots, he was indiscernible to an opponent who has never beaten him (four matches) and confirmed, after two performances, that he is the player to beat in the Port this year as well.

The Spaniard has had no trouble adapting to the ball bounce, humidity or wind, he has resolved the first two battles without suffering and at a very high level of tennis.

This time Nadal didn't even need to study his opponent, only in the first game of the Italian's serve did he give him a chance to settle in, but in just the fourth game he stole the service from him with a slice that closed a game in which his forehand dictated the rhythm.

"What I have done very well again is that with my forehand I have created winning shots, moved my opponent, with the backhand I was better, but I was missing that feeling that every time I hit a forehand the opponent suffers, at the beginning of the year I have achieved it," explained the Spaniard.

Lorenzi seemed suffocated by the level of the two-time champion in Acapulco, who reached every ball and preferred to quickly resolve the points, thus adding games to the scoreboard.

After another resounding left-handed stroke, he got another break opportunity, and the Italian hit the ball into the net, the score was already 5-1. Rafa was on the verge and Lorenzi was barely able to respond, watching as the set slipped away from him in just 32 minutes.

The second chapter was another display of resources from the Spaniard, a monologue that people enjoyed from beginning to end, in a full and enthusiastic central court, as always, for Manacor.

Despite struggling, Lorenzi won the first game, but it was the last one he earned in the set and in the tournament. With a return worthy of the 14-time winner of Grand Slam tournaments, he got another break and took a 2-1 lead, the match was already in his favor.

Paolo collapsed and didn't appear in the match anymore, Rafa won all the subsequent games, until he had the opportunity to end the match, and he did it with class, with a forehand that was impossible for his opponent.

Rafa has appeared in Acapulco and continues without losing a match, the 12-0 record in the Port is as resounding as his victory in the second round; the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka awaits him in the quarterfinals, who defeated Australian Jordan Thompson.

"It's a new match for both of us, interesting, there are no surprises, we all know each other here, the rounds are very tough, and if you go out and compete, you can win or lose, he has played at a very good level, he has won several matches because he played in the qualifying rounds, he will come with a lot of confidence."

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