RAFA’S RETURN

Nadal warms up for Oz with his first title since August

RAFA NADAL proved his fitness as he bids for a 21st Grand Slam at the Australian Open by winning his first ATP Tour event since August.

The Spaniard ended last season early because of a foot injury and tested positive for Covid last month.

World No.6 Nadal, 35, did not beat a player in the world’s top 94 in his three Melbourne Summer Set 1 matches.

And he took one hour and 44 minutes to see off American qualifier and world No.112 Maxime Cressy 7-6 6-3 in yesterday’s final to continue his streak of winning an ATP title every year since 2004.

But the 2009 Australian Open winner, who claimed his 89th ATP Tour title, said: “Of course I’m very happy to start the season with a title.

“It’s another season winning at least a title and coming from where we are, it’s very special, so super happy.

“If we put everything together and analyse all the things that I went through in the last five months, including Covid after Abu Dhabi, of course I am happy.

“I think I played my best match so far since I arrived here. It’s a positive start. I have a lot of things to keep improving, but I really want to do it and I’m going to try hard.”

Canada claimed the ATP Cup in Sydney with a 2-0 win over Spain.

Denis Shapovalov defeated Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4 6-3 then Felix Auger-Aliassime clinched the title for Canada with a 7-6 6-3 victory over Roberto Bautista Agut

“The emotions are unbelievable,” said Auger-Aliassime.

Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu, who also contracted Covid in Abu Dhabi, faces a tough return at the Sydney Tennis Classic as she has drawn No.9 seed Elena Rybakina in the first round.

The Kazakh reached the final of the Adelaide International before losing to world No.1 Ash Barty 6-3 6-2.

World No.20 Simona Halep captured her first title in Australia at the Melbourne Summer Set 1 with a 6-2 6-3 defeat of Veronika Kudermetova.