Rafael Nadal entered the round of 16 of the Madrid Open with a straight win over Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 6-1, 7-6 (4) here on Wednesday.
The Spanish third seed raced away with the first set on his return to action after six weeks out with a rib injury, as his serve worked effectively, but he had to work much harder in the second set as Kecmanovic reacted well.
Nadal served for the set at 6-5 up only for Kecmanovic to break back and force a tie-break. The Spaniard last competed in March, when American Taylor Fritz ended his perfect start to the season in the Indian Wells final.
However, in a rain-disrupted clash against Kecmanovic, the World No. 4 played as if he had never been away, hitting with his explosive power as he recovered from failing to serve out the match at 6-5 in the second set to advance after one hour and 55 minutes.
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"Every comeback is different. We had to put all circumstances together to analyse every single comeback, and today has been a very important match for me, playing at home on clay against a player that has been playing well for the past couple of months," Nadal said in his post-match press conference.
"So (if you) put everything together (it is) a very tough first round," Nadal added.
"I think I managed it very well. I played at a good level, so (I am) very pleased with the victory. I just try to stay humble to know things (are) not going to be perfect here and just moving forward with the right determination, to accept that I need to fight, I need to stay positive. I need to play with the right attitude, and take every single match that I'm able to win like a present to play another time here."
No. 5 seed Casper Ruud was the victim of an upset as Dusan Lajovic beat the Norwegian in three sets, 7-6 (7), 2-6, 6-4 to book a place in the round of 16, while ninth seed Cameron Norrie won another three-set match against big-serving John Isner, 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4.
Roberto Bautista Agut, who was seeded 17th in Madrid, was knocked out by Britain's Daniel Evans, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (2) in a match that lasted just two minutes short of three hours.
In the women's quarterfinals, Ekaterina Alexandrova also booked her place in the semifinals thanks to a 6-4, 6-3 victory against Amanda Anisimova in an hour and a half.
Jill Teichmann moved into the last four with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against Anhelina Kalinina, while 12th seed Jessica Pegula completes the draw after knocking out Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-4, 6-2.