Nadal Books Almagro Showdown In Rio

Top seed and 2014 champion Rafael Nadal has launched his Rio Open campaign with victory over countryman Pablo Carreno Busta in a rain-interrupted 6-1, 6-4 match. The former World No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings landed five of seven break point opportunities in the one-hour, 20-minute encounter on Tuesday night to book a second-round showdown with another of his compatriots, Nicolas Almagro.

Nadal carries a 13-1 FedEx ATP Head2Head record against Almagro. Carreno Busta, the youngest of 14 Spaniards in the Top 100, was looking for his first career win over a Top 10 opponent. Against Nadal, he would have to win for the first time in three encounters. And he did not make the start he had hoped for, being broke to love for 2-0 on Quadra Guga Kuerten.

Nadal secured a second break for 5-1 and served out the opening set 6-1 on his second set point before rain suspended the match. At the resumption of play, Nadal secured the early break for 2-1, the first of five consecutive breaks between the pair, before serving it out 6-4 after one hour and 22 minutes.