Rafael Nadal Excellent In Return, Beats Richard Gasquet In Opening Round Of 2014 China Open

Rafael Nadal is not only back but has already shown he’s in excellent form after beating Richard Gasquet, 6-4, 6-0 in the opening round of the men’s singles competition of the 2014 China Open.

A wrist injury has sidelined Nadal since July of 2014 as the current world no. 2 player pulled out of tournaments including the 2014 US Open, the last Grand Slam tournament of the year.

But for the final quarter of 2014, the Spanish ace wants to prove that he’s still one of the top contenders in the world when healthy. He was in-form against Frenchman Gasquet needing just 28 minutes to finish the match.

With the healthy wrist, Nadal fired 27 winners with 4 aces in the match.

“Today was an important day for me, the day that I am back,” an obviously relieved Nadal said via the tournament’s official website.

“Three months without a match, winning against a player who is a good player like Richard, is a very positive comeback for me.”

Despite his absence, Nadal has retained his no. 2 spot in the ATP rankings and wants to get the no. 1 spot from Novak Djokovic of Serbia. Rival Roger Federer of Switzerland is also breathing down his neck from the no. 3 spot.

Nadal’s last singles match before the China Open win was the loss to rising young Australian Nick Kyrgios in the Round of 16 of the 2014 Wimbledon Championships. There were reports that the wrist injury would heal in time for the major in New York but the Spaniard never fully recovered and he failed to defend the US Open title.

Nadal, who is seeded second in the 2014 China Open, will take on Peter Gojowczyk of Germany in the second round.