Vamos Rafa! Former World No 1 Nadal makes winning start on return from injury

Rafael Nadal made a winning return to action after eight months out through injury and illness when he partnered Juan Monaco to a straight sets doubles victory in the opening round of the VTR Open in Chile.
Nadal, whose last competitive match came in a shock second-round defeat to Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon in June, was forced to abort his return from a knee injury in December after being struck down by a stomach virus - an illness which ruled him out of last month's Australian Open.
The former world No 1 was back on court in Vina del Mar, though, as he and Argentine Monaco record an impressive 6-3 6-2 victory over second seeds Frantisek Cermak and Lukas Dlouhy in a match that lasted just over an hour.

 

Winning return: Nadal made his first appearance since losing at Wimbledon

 

Victors: Nadal and Juan Mónaco beat Frantisek Cermak and Lukas Dlouhy 6-3, 6-2 at the Chilean Open.

The 26-year-old 11-time major winner, who has not contested an ATP tournament in South America since 2005, is scheduled to make his singles comeback against Argentinian Federico Delbonis tomorrow.
The Spaniard is the tournament's top seed and received a first-round bye.
Nadal seemed upset being asked immediately after the match about his knee.

 

Recovery: Nadal has started his long road to 100% fitness by playing doubles

 

Comeback: The former World No1 will play his first singles game on Wednesday as he takes on Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis

'The knee - I said it when I got here. I would prefer not to keep talking about the topic,' Nadal said.
'At the end of the day the doctors have said it's OK. There is no risk of making it worse. My knee keeps hurting. But the fact I am playing here is a thing of joy. 
'I am not 100 percent, I need some weeks,' he added. 'If it hurts, it hurts and we'll put up with it. I am here to play tennis, with or without pain. ...I'm happy to have played an official game, although it was doubles.'