'You are kidding': Tennis world erupts over Rafa Nadal's 'ridiculous' act

Rafael Nadal has put on an absolute clinic at the Mexico Open in Acapulco, producing a number of winners that had fans and commentators in awe.

Nadal beat Miomir Kecmanovic in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals, the World No.2 seeing off his 20-year-old opponent 6-2 7-5 in one hour and 35 minutes.

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Nadal won the first five games of the match and produced a ‘ridiculous’ winner to highlight his dominance.

After Kecmanovic appeared to be on the verge of winning a point in the fourth game, the Spaniard ripped a crazy winner down the line from way behind the baseline.

“You are kidding me,” one TV commentator said.

“That is ridiculous,” the co-commentator said.

Fans were also searching for the superlatives.

But he wasn’t finished there, producing a similar winner from a Kecmanovic smash in the second set.

The second set remained on serve until the eighth game, when Nadal took his second break point.

Kecmanovic, the World No.50, broke back but the 19-time grand slam champion stepped it up in the final game to break again and secure victory.

Djokovic and Tsitsipas surge into Dubai semis

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic extended his undefeated start to this season to a perfect 16-0 on Thursday after a dominant 6-2 6-2 win over Karen Khachanov to reach the semi-finals in Dubai.

The World No.1 hadn't faced a break point en route to the last-eight stage this week, and was in punishing form against Russian Khachanov, who fell to the Serb in a mere 66 minutes.

The 32-year-old Djokovic will take on Gael Monfils in the last four, who eased passed his fellow Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-3 6-3 to record a 12th consecutive match-win on tour.

Djokovic, competing in Dubai for the first time since 2016, has now made the last four in the Emirates nine times from 11 appearances.

"I'm definitely feeling well and playing really well," he said.

"I like playing night sessions, conditions are quite different to the day and last couple of days there was quite a lot of wind, it's not easy to find the rhythm on the serve and groundstrokes.

"Tough match for Karen, I think he can do much better than what he has done tonight, it wasn't his day."

Earlier in the day, Stefanos Tsitsipas said he would not let fatigue get in the way of his bid for a second consecutive final appearance in Dubai.

The World No.6 needed two hours and 22 minutes to battle past Struff 4-6 6-4 6-4 and set up a semi-final against Briton Dan Evans.

Evans reached the first ATP 500-level semi-final of his career with a tough 6-2 7-6 (11-9) success over sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev earlier on Centre Court.

with AAP