• VTR Open

Nadal makes comeback, and wins

ESPN staff
February 5, 2013
Rafael Nadal started his long road to full fitness by playing doubles

Rafael Nadal made a winning return after seven months out because of a knee injury at the VTR Open in Vina del Mar, Chile.

World No. 5 Nadal was accompanying Argentine Juan Monaco in the men's doubles and the pair secured a 6-3 6-2 win over Czech pair Frantisek Cermak and Lukas Dlouhy on Tuesday.

Nadal and Monaco saved all six of the break points they faced and converted four out of seven opportunities on their opponents' serve.

Although the Spaniard came through unscathed, a better test of the condition his left knee is in will be on Wednesday when he plays Federico Delbonis in the second round of the singles draw.

As the No. 1 seed at the first clay-court tournament of the year, Nadal received a bye through the first round and the 26-year-old will be looking to post an encouraging performance in his first singles game since June, when he lost to then world No. 100 Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon.

The 11-time grand slam champion is slated to continue his recovery after the VTR Open at the Brazil Open in Sao Paulo later this month.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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