Monday 20 October 2014 21:20, UK
Rafael Nadal put his ongoing injury issues to one side as he comfortably beat Simone Bolelli in the first round of the Swiss Indoors Basel on Monday.
Making his first appearance at the event in ten years, Nadal broke his Italian rival twice in both sets to complete a 6-2 6-2 victory in 71 minutes.
The Spaniard has been affected by an appendix problem that looks likely to need surgery in the weeks ahead and lost in the first round to Feliciano Lopez on his last competitive outing in Shanghai.
However, the problem did not appear to impede him on Monday as he dominated the contest against Bolelli.
The Spaniard won 81 percent of points on his own serve and took four of seven break-point opportunities to emerge a convincing winner.
Bolelli did dig in at the start of the second set as the first four games were shared, but Nadal then reeled off four straight games to seal victory – his success confirmed when his rival sent a forehand long.
It was the first match he has won at the event having suffered first-round defeats in his previous two visits and the 28-year-old admitted he was pleased to come through so impressively.
"I had some doubts with myself that I would be able to compete well," stated the second seed. "Today was a very positive victory for me.
"I'm very pleased with what happened. When you are 10 days on antibiotics, the body goes down some, you feel a little scared on how you will play.
"But I'm happy with my performance today, I'm looking forward to playing the next round on Wednesday.
"Ten years without being here, that's a long time. But finally I'm here and I'm really happy to get my first Basel win.”
Nadal will next face France's Pierre-Hugues Herbert who got the better of compatriot Edouard Roger-Vasselin after a hard-fought three-setter, winning 6-3 6-7 (7/5) 7-6 (7/3).
Elsewhere, seventh seed David Goffin saw off rising Austrian star Dominic Thiem 7-6 (7/4) 6-3, while Donald Young beat Carlos Berlocq of Argentina in straight sets.
