• ATP Tour

Nadal powers through in Mexico

ESPN staff
February 27, 2013

Rafael Nadal needed just over an hour to beat Diego Schwartzman of Argentina 6-2 6-2 on Tuesday to advance to the second round of the Mexico Open.

The seven-time French Open winner is making a comeback after being away from the tour for more than seven months with a left-knee injury.

Nadal made the final of the VTR Open earlier this month in Chile before losing to Argentine Horacio Zeballos. A week later he reached the final of the Brasil Open and defeated David Nalbandian to secure the title.

He is seeded No. 2 in the clay court tournament in Mexico, behind fellow Spaniard David Ferrer.

Ferrer also won his first-round match on Tuesday, defeating Antonio Veic 6-0 6-3. Ferrer is the three-time defending champion and won last week in Buenos Aires, his second title of the season.

No. 3 seed Nicolas Almagro of Spain defeated Cesar Ramirez of Mexico 6-0 6-1.

Nadal rested last week, giving his left knee a chance to heal. He has said the knee still hurts and has been told he has to live with it until the pain slowly goes away.

There was a shock as No. 4 seed Stanislas Wawrinka was upset by Fabio Fognini 6-2 7-6 (3).

This article first appeared on ESPN.com

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