ATP: Roger Federer - Will there be anything else with Acapulco?
The ATP Tour 500 tournament in Acapulco takes place simultaneously with the event in Dubai. This complicates the efforts of the organizers to finally bring Roger Federer to Mexico.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Feb 04, 2019, 03:17 pm
Severin Lüthi could be something like Raul Zurutuza's last straw, rather the Roger Federer coach's forecast in Australia that his protégé was not yet thinking about an early career end. Zurutuza, the tournament director of Acapulco's ATP Tour 500 event, would like to welcome Federer at least once more as an active member of his event's tableau.
The big problem with that? Federer's loyalty to Dubai. For one thing, the maestro has set up his winter camp there for years. On the other hand, a tournament with the same endowment takes place at the same time in Acapulco in Dubai, also with 500 points for the champion.
Rafael Nadal was unable to play in 2018
"We have repeatedly invited Mr. Federer," said Raul Zurutuza. “I think we also sent out the right signals. But of course we respect his agreement with Dubai. It is good for Dubai that he plays there. And bad for us. But we cannot change these things. Maybe one day he'll still play with us. "
Rafael Nadal, on the other hand, feels generally unattached at the end of February and will play for the title in Acapulco. The Spaniard had arrived last year but was unable to play due to the injury that forced him to retire at the Australian Open.
"We'll see each other next year," recalls Zurutuza of Nadal's words in 2018. And in the current edition, which starts on February 25, Acapulco boss Rafael Nadal is expecting not only as a participant, but as a first contender on the tournament victory.