BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Rafael Nadal marked his return to the Swiss Indoors after a 10-year absence with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Italian qualifier Simone Bolelli in the first round on Monday.
The second-seeded Spaniard, playing just his third tournament since Wimbledon due to a wrist injury, had little difficulty against the 75th-ranked Bolelli despite having to contend with appendicitis earlier this month in Shanghai.
“This was a very important victory for me. I played a good match, a solid one. I played with not many mistakes,” said Nadal, who converted four of seven break points and won in 71 minutes.
The Spaniard next faces French qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who prevailed 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3) against compatriot Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
Donald Young defeated Argentina’s Carlos Berlocq 7-6 (5), 6-4 to end his three-match losing run. The American next faces fourth-seeded Milos Raonic or compatriot Steve Johnson.
David Goffin defeated Dominic Thiem of Austria 7-6 (4), 6-3 in Monday’s late match. The seventh-seeded Belgian next plays Ivan Dodig of Croatia or Swiss wild card Marco Chiudinelli.
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