Rafael Nadal wins doubles debut at Brazil Open
14 Feb 2013 2:38 AM GMT
Spain’s Rafael Nadal teamed up with Argentina’s David Nalbandian to post a three-set doubles victory in the Brazil Open late on Tuesday.
The world number five, back on court after his defeat in the Vina del Mar Open in Chile on Sunday, and Nalbandian won 6-3, 3-6, 11-9 in just 79 minutes over fellow Spaniards Pablo Andujar and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the first- round of the ATP Tour clay court event. The match started two hours behind schedule and Nadal, wearing a white knee brace, was greeted with thunderous applause when he appeared on the court in the 9,300-seat Ibirapuera gymnasium.
The winning duo was to play in the second round on Wednesday. As the top seed, the 11-time Grand Slam champion enjoyed a first-round singles bye and will open his singles campaign Thursday.
‘I am a bit tired after a hard week in Chile. But it was positive,’ Nadal said earlier in the day. ‘The process of recovery follows its course.’
The world number five, back on court after his defeat in the Vina del Mar Open in Chile on Sunday, and Nalbandian won 6-3, 3-6, 11-9 in just 79 minutes over fellow Spaniards Pablo Andujar and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the first- round of the ATP Tour clay court event. The match started two hours behind schedule and Nadal, wearing a white knee brace, was greeted with thunderous applause when he appeared on the court in the 9,300-seat Ibirapuera gymnasium.
The winning duo was to play in the second round on Wednesday. As the top seed, the 11-time Grand Slam champion enjoyed a first-round singles bye and will open his singles campaign Thursday.
‘I am a bit tired after a hard week in Chile. But it was positive,’ Nadal said earlier in the day. ‘The process of recovery follows its course.’
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