RICKY DIMON REPORTS ON “RAFA FROM RIO ” RAFAEL NADAL OFF TO A WINNING START ON THE TENNIS COURTS AFTER CELEBRATING CARNIVAL IN THE STREETS

Written by: Staff on 18th February 2015

RICKY DIMON REPORTS ON "RAFA FROM RIO " RAFAEL NADAL OFF TO A WINNING START ON THE TENNIS COURTS AFTER CELEBRATING CARNIVAL IN THE STREETS

epa04624820 Rafael Nadal, from Spain, celebrates a point against Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci during a first round game in the Rio Tennis Open 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 17 February 2015. EPA/Wagner Meier |

Rafael Nadal, who lost to Tomas Berdych in the Australian Open quarterfinals, returned to his winning ways with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Thomaz Bellucci in round one of the Rio Open on Tuesday. Nadal dropped serve twice in the opening set without saving a break point, but he raised his level in the second to finish the job in one hour and 31 minutes.

The third-ranked Spaniard twice gave back breaks in the opening set before taking complete control with a run of six consecutive games–from 4-4 in the first to 4-0 in the second.

“I think I played well,” said Nadal. “Keeping in mind that it was a long time since I last played on clay. I played not looking to complicate things, because I knew it was not the day to do so. I tried not to make big mistakes.”

Nadal is now 6-0 lifetime in Rio having won the inaugural event in 2014. Last year he scraped past Pablo Andujar 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(10) in the semis then beat Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3, 7-6(3) in the title match.

Rafael Nadal at the Rio carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo via Instagram.

Up next for the top seed is a first-ever meeting with fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta on Thursday. Carreno Busta got his week started by holding off Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-0. The world No. 55 is a mediocre 3-4 on the year and he is coming off an opening-round loss in Sao Paulo to Joao Souza.

Another second-rounder in Rio will pit Fabio Fognini against Pablo Andujar. Fognini saved three match points on Tuesday to overcome Jiri Vesely 1-6, 7-6(7), 6-1. The Italian is 4-0 lifetime versus Andujar (2-0 at the ATP level).

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Editors note: Temperature 86 °F | °C . Humidity 79% . These fit guys are struggling in the conditions.

Topics: Rafa, Ricky Dimon, Rio De Janeiro, Rio Open, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

February 18, 2015 at 12:52 pm

@Dimonator REPORTS ON “RAFA FROM RIO” @RafaelNadal OFF TO A WINNING START ON THE #TENNIS COURTS http://t.co/QqIIjRie1q #RioCarnaval #RioOpen
Dimonator says:

February 18, 2015 at 5:06 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: @Dimonator REPORTS ON “RAFA FROM RIO” @RafaelNadal OFF TO A WINNING START ON THE #TENNIS COURTS http://t.co/QqIIjRie1q #R…
dusanVemic says:

February 19, 2015 at 7:45 am

RT @10sBalls_com: @Dimonator REPORTS ON “RAFA FROM RIO” @RafaelNadal OFF TO A WINNING START ON THE #TENNIS COURTS http://t.co/QqIIjRie1q #R…