February 7, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Rafael Nadal returned to singles action for the first time since Wimbledon on Wednesday at the VTR Open in Vina del Mar, defeating Argentina’s Federico Delbonis 6-3, 6-2 in the second round. Nadal, dressed in a purple shirt and grey shorts just above the knee, dropped the first two games against Delbonis. But Nadal reeled off 10 of the next 11 games to claim the first set and assume a commanding 4-0 lead in the second set.
Nadal was cheered on by a sellout crowd of 4,500 in a temporary stadium. The tournament has been increased by 1,200 seats for fans to see Nadal playing for the first time in Chile.
“For now the most important thing is to spend as much time as possible on court," said Nadal. "This victory allows me to play at least two more matches, singles and doubles. To practice is one thing but to play is totally different. In a real match, you can’t control your body as you do in practice.”
Nadal is returning from the left-knee injury that sidelined him since a second-round upset to Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon last June. Nadal will meet either Albert Montanes or Daniel Gimeno-Traver – both Spaniards – in the singles quarterfinals Friday.
