Two-time champion Rafael Nadal raced past third-seeded Marin Cilic 6-1, 6-2 to reach the ATP Mexico Open final, where his perfect Acapulco record will be put to the test by Sam Querrey. Querrey ousted Nick Kyrgios 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 to bring the sixth-seeded Australian's giant-killing run to a halt a day after Kyrgios stunned world No. 2 Novak Djokovic in straight sets. Second-seeded Nadal, playing his first tournament since falling to Roger Federer in an epic five-set final at the Australian Open in January, has won all 14 matches he has played in Acapulco, where he lifted the trophy in 2005 and 2013. Nadal roared through the opening set against Cilic, building a 5-0 lead before the former US Open champion, who advanced to the semi-finals on a walkover when scheduled opponent Steve Johnson withdrew, showed signs of life with a service hold for 5-1. Croatia's Cilic seized a 0-40 lead on Nadal in the next game, but the Spaniard saved four break points to hold for the opening set. After receiving treatment on his right ankle, Cilic promptly dropped his serve to open the second set, and while he mustered break chances in each of Nadal's first three service games of the second set, he couldn't convert. Querrey and Kyrgios were neck and neck in the third set when the American produced the first break of the set in the final game to seize the victory. Querrey had saved the only break point he faced in the set with a 135 mile per hour serve in the fifth game. Kyrgios, 21, had appeared on his way when he closed out the first set by winning four straight games. But after leading 40-15 in the opening game of the second set he was broken, and suddenly seemed at sea and Querrey took the set in just 23 minutes as Kyrgios' mistakes multiplied. A medical timeout for courtside treatment on his right elbow seemed to help, and Kyrgios didn't face a break point in the third until the final game. Then a backhand wide from the Australian suddenly gave Querrey two match points, and he belted a forehand winner on the first. Vinolas, Sousa in semis Second-seeded Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain reached the semifinals of the Brazil Open with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 against Guido Pella of Argentina Friday. He next faces Joao Sousa of Portugal, who advanced to the last four after beating Federico Delbonis of Argentina 6-3, 6-1. Qualifier Barty in final Australian qualifier Ashleigh Barty breezed past China's Han Xinyun 6-3, 7-5 in the Malaysian Open to reach her first singles final, where will face Japan's Nao Hibino in Kuala Lumpur Sunday. Barty could climb into the world's top 100 if she beats Hibino who defeated Poland's Magda Linette 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. — Agencies
