Rafael Nadal succeeded in his return to competition by easily dominating his compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta (6-1, 6-1) Wednesday in the second round of the Masters 1000 in Rome, for his first official match in more than six months.
It only took 74 minutes for Rafael Nadal to successfully return to competition. More than six months after his last official match on Wednesday, the Spaniard easily beat his compatriot Pablo Carreño Busta (6-1, 6-1) in the second round of the Masters 1000 in Rome.
Picking up where he left off ?@Rafael Nadal makes swift work of Carreño-Busta in his first match in 7 months!# IBI20 pic.twitter.com/w1B3QaVgcm
– Tennis TV (@TennisTV) September 16, 2020
This victory against the 18th world, recent finalist of the US Open, comes less than two weeks before the start of Roland-Garros in Paris. In the third round, Rafael Nadal will meet the Canadian Milos Raonic, seeded No. 13, or the Serbian Dusan Lajovic.
One break point conceded
In search of a tenth coronation in Rome (while waiting to aim for a twentieth Grand Slam to join Roger Federer), the second world has shown that he has not lost any of his qualities. Aggressive on his serve and tireless in defense, he conceded only one break point (saved) to Carreño Busta.
The last points gleaned on a court by Rafael Nadal went back to the end of February, during the final won at the tournament in Acapulco (Mexico). Since then, pointing to the “madness” of the schedule of recovery after the months of the break caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Mallorcan had given up on the American mini-tour.
