Who will fit-again Rafael Nadal have to beat in Acapulco to turn up the heat on Roger Federer?

Rafael Nadal is set to make his injury comeback at Acapulco this week, as he looks to put pressure on Roger Federer heading into the American hard-court season.

The Spaniard hobbled out of the Australian Open in his quarter-final clash against Marin Cilic but is scheduled to return to action against Feliciano Lopez at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.

During his relatively brief absence, Nadal lost his world No. 1 ranking to Roger Federer, who became the oldest top-ranked player in history.

However, the gap between the pair at the top of the ATP leaderboard is a slender 345 points and with Federer defending 2000 points at Indian Wells and Miami in the coming weeks, Nadal can apply some extra pressure to the Swiss with a title in Mexico.

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Though the 31-year-old has suffered just one defeat at Acapulco in the past, there is a strong line-up standing between the 2017 runner-up and the crown, while question marks remain over just how fit he is heading into the tie.

He begins his campaign against compatriot Feliciano Lopez, a player who has won their last two meetings, before a potential tie with Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis in round two.

Predicted Nadal route to Acapulco glory

R1: Lopez
R2: Kokkinakis
QF: Querrey
SF: Anderson
F: Zverev

Defending champion Sam Querrey – who beat Nadal in last year’s final – is a likely quarter-final opponent, while Kevin Anderson, Jack Sock and Hyeon Chung are the main contenders to face him in the last-four.

Anderson impressed on his way to the New York Open title, beating Frances Tiafoe, Kei Nishikori and Querrey, so he seems the most likely to progress here.

Notable first-round Acapulco ties

A. Zverev v Johnson
Schwartzman v Verdasco
Shapovalov v Nishikori
Ferrer v Rublev
Del Potro v M. Zverev
Nadal v Lopez

In the other half of the draw, Alexander Zverev is the highest-ranked player, although Juan Martin del Potro, Dominic Thiem, Denis Shapovalov, Andrey Rublev and Nishikori are among the names occupying a strong field.

Indeed, there are some tasty first-round ties with fit-again Nishikori’s first meeting with 18-year-old Shapovalov perhaps the pick of the bunch.

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