Rafa Nadal in action at Rio Open looking for a return to winning ways
Tuesday 16 February 2016 23:43, UK
Rafa Nadal says a return to familiar territory at the Rio Open gives him the ideal opportunity to bounce back from recent results.
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The Spaniard, now ranked number five in the world, was surprisingly beaten in the semi-final by teenager Dominic Thiem in Buenos Aires last week, his first tournament since a first round defeat to Fernando Verdasco at the Australian Open.
Nadal has not reached a Grand Slam since the French Open in 2014 as injuries have taken their toll but he remains determined to find the form that has made him a 14-time major winner - and hopes a return to Rio de Janiero where he won the title in 2014 can be the catalyst.
In fact Nadal, seeded first for this year's event, has won three titles on Brazilian soil and will begin his campaign against fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, a game you can see live on Sky Sports.
"I came to Rio because I always had good results here," Nadal told a press conference ahead of the event.
"My first time I ended as champion and last year I made the semi-finals [lost to Fabio Fognini]. I'm very happy to be here in Rio and willing to play my first match now."
Nadal's conquerer and champion in Argentina Thiem is also in action in Rio, while defending champion David Ferrer is the second seed, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is seeded third and Great Britain's Aljaz Bedene is also in the event.
John Isner is the first big name casualty, the fourth seed beaten by Argentina's Guido Pella on a rain interrupted first day.
Watch live action from the Rio Open on Tuesday night, starting at 7pm on Sky Sports 1.
