ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — Juan Martin del Potro won the Mexico Open on Saturday night for his 21st ATP Tour title, beating Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-4 to improve to 7-0 against the 6-foot-8 South African.
Del Potro was projected to switch spots with Anderson in the world ranking, with del Potro going from ninth to eighth. The 29-year-old Argentine star beat three straight players ranked ahead of him in the hard-court event, topping No. 6 Dominic Thiem in the quarterfinals and No. 5 Alexander Zverev in the semifinals.
"It's a very special tournament to me," said del Potro, the 2009 U.S. Open champion. "I beat three Top 10 guys in the same tournament, which is very important for myself. I'm so glad to win my 21st title playing in Acapulco."
The 6-foot-6 del Potro won for the first time since successfully defending his Stockholm title last year.
"He's a very dangerous guy," del Potro said about Anderson. "His serves are so strong, but I got lucky in the important moments of my return games. I broke just twice and that was the key of the match."