Top seed Rafael Nadal beat American qualifier Maxime Cressy 7-6 (6) 6-3 to win the Melbourne Summer Set 1 ATP 250 event and build up momentum heading into the Australian Open.
The Spaniard, playing his first competitive tournament since August, was largely untroubled as he wrapped up the win in an hour 48 minutes.
Cressy was put under serious pressure by Nadal from the off, having to defend three break points in his first service game, but there was little to separate the two for the rest of the first set, which required a tiebreak.
Nadal stepped on the gas late in the tiebreak, saving a set point at 5-6 down and then earning a set point of his own with a forehand winner, which he converted to take the first set 7-6(6).
Cressy responded by breaking first in the second set to take a 2-1 lead, but Nadal immediately shut down a potential comeback with a break of his own to bring the set back on serve.
The Spaniard then broke again to lead 5-3 and held serve to claim the title.
“I’m coming back from some challenging moments and injuries, so it means a lot to be here,” the 20-times Grand Slam champion said, before praising his opponent. “Congratulations Maxime, it’s a great start to the season. I wish you all the very best for the rest of the season and your career.”
It was Nadal’s 89th title on the ATP tour and the win ensures he has won at least one singles crown every year for the past 19 years. Nadal said that, while he was not in perfect shape, he was happy with his form so far.
“Exactly where I would like to be is being 100 percent healthy from last year, playing until the end of the season, and with not having come back after five, six months away from competition,” he said.
“So of course I am not exactly the place that I want to be.
“But I am very happy. If we put everything together and analyse all the things that I went through the last five months, including the Covid, of course I am happy.
“I think my practices have been much better than my level of tennis in the competition, but in some way that’s very positive.
“The only thing that I need is to stay healthy and spend time on court, in official matches.”
Nadal will be aiming to break the record for most Grand Slam singles titles at this month’s Australian Open.
He is currently tied on 20 titles with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, but with Federer injured and Djokovic’s presence in doubt because of visa issues, Nadal has a chance to go one ahead of his great rivals.
Nadal was playing his first tournament since August after injury and Covid.
He said while he was sick he could not get out of bed for days, but once he began to recover he had no doubt he would come to Australia to try to win his second title at Melbourne Park.
“There have been some very challenging moments, and I have been working very hard even in the very tough moments,” Nadal said.
“I am quite satisfied the way that I approached all these very challenging months in terms of attitude, in terms of positive spirit and in terms of passion to try to be back. This title helps to keep going, and it’s of course just the beginning.”