ACAPULCO, March 4: Juan Martin Del Potro clinched the ATP Mexican Open title on Saturday night after defeating Kevin Anderson.
Del Potro defeated the hard-serving Anderson 6-4, 6-4 in the final to claim his first title of 2018 and post his seventh-straight career victory over Anderson. With this victory the 29-year-old Del Potro recorded his 21st career ATP title.
The Argentine won the title by battling through a tough draw that included a trio of top 10 players.
He has earlier defeated four-time Acapulco champion David Ferrer, No. 6 Dominic Thiem and No. 5 Alexander Zverev before dispatching world number eight Anderson.
Del Potro has been dominant against Anderson on the hardcourts ever since their first meeting in 2011 in Delray Beach, Florida which he went on to win 6-4, 6-4. Since then, they have squared off in Vienna, Valencia, Basel, Washington and Delray again with all the matches taking place on the hard surface.
Del Potro served masterfully on Saturday, blasting 12 aces and winning 78 per cent of his first serve and 64 per cent of his second serve points in the one hour, 40 minute match.
Del Potro managed to hold serve throughout the match and broke Anderson twice.
Anderson had his eight-match winning streak snapped and was coming off a title at the New York Open.
On the women�s side, Lesia Tsurenko successfully defended her WTA Mexican Open title by rallying from a first set loss to beat Stefanie Voegele 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-2.
Ukraine�s Tsurenko earned her 10th straight victory this week and claimed her fourth career WTA Tour title by outlasting 27-year-old Voegele in the two hour, 45 minute match.
The seventh seeded Tsurenko hit two aces and won 64 per cent of her first-serve points coughing up 10 double faults as she was broken six times.
At one stage the Ukrainian was just three points away from defeat in the second set, but she hung on and has now won at least one title each year since claiming her first in 2015 at the Guangzhou, China tournament.
�It�s such a special tournament for me,� Tsurenko said during the trophy ceremony wearing the traditional champion�s sombrero. �It was amazing.�
�Stefanie, it was an unbelievable match,� Tsurenko said. �It was almost three hours. We both were nervy and we were still fighting to the end. Thanks for this match and for this experience.�
The unseeded Voegele, who was playing in her first final, blasted four aces and had her serve broken seven times.
In the men�s doubles final, Britain�s Jamie Murray and Brazil�s Bruno Soares successfully defended their title, beating American twins Bob and Mike Bryan 7-6 (4), 7-5.
Germany�s Tatjana Maria and Britain�s Heather Watson won the women�s doubles in their first tournament together, topping Americans Kaitlyn Christian and Sabrina Santamaria 7-5, 2-6, 10-2. � Agencies
