Rafael Nadal: Spanish star discovers tough Mexican Open draw, Kyrgios showdown possible
RAFAEL NADAL faces a difficult test at next week’s Mexican Open with a potential match against Nick Kyrgios in the second round.
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Nadal returns to action in Acapulco, four weeks after losing in the Australian Open final to Novak Djokovic.
Last year, Nadal was forced to withdraw from the Mexican Open with injury but he is back to try and win for a third time at the ATP 500 event.
But the Spanish star faces a tough path to the final.
In the first round, Nadal will face 31-year-old German Mischa Zverev and could then meet Kyrgios, who he has lost to twice in the past.
The quarter-finals could then see a match up against Swiss ace Stan Wawrinka.
And if Nadal reaches the final, Alexander Zverev may be waiting.
After notable first round ties see Kyrgios take on Andreas Seppi, 2017 champion Sam Querrey against fellow American Taylor Fritz and Diego Schwartzman vs Marius Copil.
David Ferrer, a four-time champion, will play for the final time in Acapulco as he continues his retirement tour.
MEXICAN OPEN - FIRST ROUND
Rafael Nadal vs Mischa Zverev
Nick Kyrgios vs Andreas Seppi
Qualifier vs Stan Wawrinka
Gerardo Lopez Villasenor vs Steve Johnson
John Isner vs Adrian Mannarino
Sam Querrey vs Taylor Fritz
Qualifier vs Peter Gojowczyk
Qualifier vs John Millman
Frances Tiafoe vs Jordan Thompson
Mackenzie McDonald vs Emilio Nava
Cameron Norrie vs Yoshihito Nishioka
Marius Copil vs Diego Schwartzman
Alex de Minaur vs Nicolas Jarry
Dusan Lajovic vs Feliciano Lopez
Tennys Sandgren vs David Ferrer
Qualifier vs Alexander Zverev