TENNIS ATP BASEL – Rafael Nadal made a winning debut beating Italian Simone Bolelli 6-2 6-2 in the first round of the Swiss Indoor in Basel, a ATP 500 Tournament where he is playing for the third time in his career and for the first time in ten years . Despite the recent recent problem with appendicitis Nadal broke serve twice in each set and did not face any break points. Diego Sampaolo
Nadal broke serve in the third game of the first set for 2-1 and pulled away to 5-2 before getting a second break to clinch the second set with 6-2 after some unforced errors made by Bolelli.
Nadal broke serve in the sixth game for 4-2 with a down-the-line passing shot, Bolelli dropped serve to 15 at 2-5 in the final game of the match.
Nadal hit three aces and won 71 percent of his service points
Nadal will face French qualifier Pierre Hugues Herbert, who is ranked World Number 130.
Nadal just is playing his third tournament since Wimbledon. After missing the US Open he lost in the quarter final in Beijing against Martin Klizan and in the second round in Shanghai against Feliciano Lopez. He will have to undergo appendix surgery and may miss the ATP Finals in London
“This was very important for me. I played a solid match. The important goal is to try my best in the next round and to enjoy every minute of it and the love of the fans. I am happy that I finally won a match in Basel after losing in the first round in 2003 and 2004”. said Nadal.
In a very interesting match between two rising stars of the circuit Belgian David Goffin beat Austrian Dominic Thiem 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 in a re-match of the Kitzbuhel final won by Goffin. Donald Young beat Carlos Berlocq 7-6 (7-5) 6-4. Young converted three of his 11 break point chances. Young may face Milos Raonic in the second round.
The Swiss Open will feature two young stars Milos Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov who are looking for points to qualify for the ATP Finals. Dimitrov, who finished runner-up in Stockholm on Sunday, is ranked 11th in the ATP Race 300 points behind Number 8 Andy Murray, who won in Vienna and will play in Valencia this week. Raonic lost in the first round in Moscow and dropped to Number 10 in the ATP Race to London.
Dimitrov will start his Basel campaign against German teenager Aleksander Zverev and may meet Federer in the third round. Raonic will open against Steve Johnson in the first round and could play against Rafa Nadal in the semifinal
This week also features another ATP 500 tournament in Valencia where the two Vienna finalists Andy Murray and David Ferrer will be the top names. After his triumph in Valencia Murray is ranked eighth 110 points ahead of Ferrer.
Ferrer and Murray have been drawn in the same half Ferrer will open against Andreas Seppi in the first round in Valencia and could pay against Roberto Bautista Agut in the third round. Murray will face Jurgen Melzer in the first round. On the other side of the draw Tomas Berdych, who is ranked seventh after his win in Stockholm, will face Pablo Andujar in the opening match and John Isner in the third round.
