Golf: Almagro on the cusp of title hat-trick after slaying Bellucci in Acapulco

Nicolas ALMAGRO is one win away from a third-straight ATP Tour title after reaching the final of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel Open in Acapulco.

The Spanish third seed was made to work hard for his final spot as he came through a tight semi-final against Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci.

Neither man could find a break of serve during the opening set, although Bellucci carved out three break-point chances, and it was Almagro who came through the tie-break 7-4. And he then sealed the win after securing the only break of the match to take the second set 6-4.

Almagro will face defending champion David Ferrer in the final as the Spaniard recovered from a set down to beat Alexandr Dolgopolov 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.

Gisela Dulko reached the final in the women's draw as she proved far too strong for Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues, claiming three breaks in each set of a 6-0 6-2 win.

The Argentinian will not meet Spain's Arantxa Parra Santonja, after her 6-2 6-0 success over Johanna Larsson.

In Delray Beach, Juan Martin Del Potro continued his smooth progress back up the rankings, making the semi-finals after beating Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-4. He plays Mardy Fish next, while Janko Tipsarevic and Kei Nishikori face off in the other semi-final tonight.