Del Potro captures title

capulco : 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.’’

Earlier in the hard-court event at Princess Mundo Imperial, Lesya Tsurenko successfully defended her women’s title with a 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-2 victory over Stefanie Voegele.

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.’’

Anderson tweaked his left leg on del Potro’s lob and received treatment at 1-1 in the second.

“It was a little bit uncomfortable at first,’’ Anderson said. “I think in the bigger picture of things it didn’t really affect things too much,’’ Anderson said. “I think Juan Martin played really well. He’s obviously a tough competitor and a great player. I just needed to do a little bit more today.’’

He won the New York Open two weeks ago for his fourth career title.