Nadal into semifinals at Mexican Open

Spain´s Rafael Nadal returns the ball during a match against Argentina´s Leonardo Mayer at the Mexican Open in Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. Nadal won 6-1, 7-5 to reach the Mexican Open semifinals.(AP Photo/Christian Palma)

ACAPULCO, Mexico—Rafael Nadal beat Leonardo Mayer in straight sets on Thursday to progress to the semifinals of the Mexican Open, setting up a meeting with Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro.

The second-seeded Nadal won 6-1, 7-5 in an hour and 41 minutes as the former top-ranked player continues his comeback from a long-term knee injury and builds towards the French Open.

Third-seeded Almagro also had a straight-sets win, defeating Horacio Zeballos 6-3, 6-4.

Top seed David Ferrer remained on track for a fourth-straight Mexican Open title by beating Paolo Lorenzi 6-3, 6-1, notching his 18th consecutive win in this tournament.

Ferrer’s semifinal opponent will be Italy’s Fabio Fognini, who beat Santiago Giraldo 7-5, 6-4.