By Chris Oddo | Tuesday, February 18, 2014

 

Rafael Nadal returned to the clay in style, taking down fellow Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver, 6-3, 7-5, on Tuesday evening in Rio.

Rafael Nadal played his first competitive tennis since the Australian Open final at the Rio Open on Tuesday, defeating fellow Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver, 6-3, 7-5.

Playing in his 800th career match on the ATP Tour, the Spaniard improved his clay-court record to a remarkable 294-21 with the victory. Only four other active players have played more matches on tour than Nadal (Federer, Haas, Hewitt and Ferrer) but no active player can match Nadal's win total on clay.

Nadal's fitness did not appear to be an issue during the match, as the Spaniard moved well, served well, and didn't appear to show any ill effects from the back issue that sabotaged his Australian Open final and forced him out of action for a few weeks.

Though he had only dropped seven games in his previous two tilts with the world No. 84, Gimeno-Traver played some fantastic tennis in front of the lively Rio crowd. He earned a break point in his first game, and peppered Nadal with big blasts in the early going, but it would be Nadal who would draw first blood when he curled a forehand down the line for a winner and a 4-2 lead.

After serving out the set, Nadal proceeded to get broken in the second game of the second set, but the world No. 1 would rally to break back in the next game when he struck another of his trademark forehands down the line after setting up the shot with a magnificent defensive crosscourt forehand.



Nadal would see three break points go begging at 4-all later in the set, but the pressure of the world's greatest clay courter would prove to be too much for Gimeno-Traver in his next service game, as the 28-year-old would net an ill-advised dropper to hand Nadal the pivotal break.

Nadal would hold serve in the next game to close out the victory in one hour and 40 minutes.