TennisToday

Rafael Nadal's Comeback at Vina Del Mar Starts with a Win

ATP 250 Vina Del Mar - Second Round

1 W/C Rafael Nadal d Q Federico Delbonis - 63 62

Yea baby!

I, for one, am thrilled he's back. I hope there are no setbacks.

To be honest - there was a lot of rust in the first 6 games.

Then Rafa turned it on and blasted his way into the quarters.

Post match: I'm happy to play a singles match after so long.

I need days and time to get my game back,

but so far the feeling on court is great.
 
For now the most important thing is to spend as much time as possible

on court. This victory allows me to play at least two more matches,

singles & doubles. To practise is one thing but to play is totally different.

In a real match you can't control your body as you do in practice.

Rafael Nadal Enjoys a Winning Start to his Comeback at Vina Del Mar

ATP 250 Vina Del Mar - Men's Doubles First Round

Rafael Nadal & Juan Monaco d 2 Cermak & Dlouhy - 63 62

Phew. Rafa's singles return begins today.

Juan Monaco posted the pic (watch prominent!) with the caption:

Very happy to play next to my friend Rafa at his return.

Rafa post match: It was a great feeling to play again and

I'm very happy for doing it with a friend like Monaco in a great atmosphere

that we had on the court. In doubles the effort is always less [taxing];

we will see how it goes in singles and how my physical condition is.

I chose this tournament because it is the perfect time and surface.

Trust me - the Twittersphere went nuts with his return yesterday.

Rafael Nadal is in Chile to PLAY Tennis y'all!

Rafa is in Vina Del Mar to ease his way back onto the ATP tour.

He has not played a professional match since his Wimby loss last June.

Vina Del Mar is a small 250 event that he has never played before.

His first match will take place on Wednesday.

But he will play a doubles match with Juan Monaco on Tuesday.

If all goes well he will play in Brazil & Acapulco.

ALL HAD BETTER GO WELL!

Tennis needs him.

Rafael Nadal Sets Return to Tennis at Vina Del Mar

Rafa's first match will be February 6th at ATP 250 Vina Del Mar, Chile.

He has not played a competitive match since losing at Wimbledon.

He has been sidelined by his pesky knee and then a stomach virus.

Rafa will also play 2 other 'Golden Swing" tournies: Soa Paulo & Acapulco.

It's his first time to play Chile. He won at Soa Paulo & Acapulco in '05.

He hasn't played the "Golden Swing" since.

Good omen? Well, '05 was the beginning of that ol' King of Clay thing.

Welcome back Rafa - tennis needs you.

Weekend Winners for February 5, 2012

Montpellier: 1 Tomas Berdych d 3 Gael Monfils - 62 46 63

Tomas wins his 7th ATP title - his 5th in Europe.

***

Zagreb: 3 Mikhail Youzhny d Lukas Lacko - 62 63

Mikhail wins his 8th ATP title - his W/L in finals is now 8-10.

He also won the doubles title with Baghdatis. He has 9 dubs titles.

***

Vina del Mar: 1 Juan Monaco d 7 Carlos Berlocq - 63 67(1) 61

Juan wins his 4th ATP title - and his first since July '07.

His W/L in finals is now 4-8. This win sure must've have felt good.

Photos: Reuters & Getty Images