BEIJING: Rafael Nadal barrelled through his opening match of the China Open Tuesday as he seeks to redeem his injury-blighted season with a strong run in Beijing.
Nadal dropped just two games to 39th-ranked Italian Paolo Lorenzi, as top seed Andy Murray dismissed Andreas Seppi to book his place in the second round.
Rain delayed play on all courts other than the roofed National Tennis Stadium until the evening.
Fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Nadal is approaching the end of his second consecutive season without a Slam title since he won his first aged 19 at Roland Garros in 2005.
He has repeatedly fended off questions about his future in the sport since he was forced out of the French Open third round with a wrist injury that also saw him miss Wimbledon.
“When you get injury for two months and a half in the middle of the season (it) is tough,” Nadal said after his first round match in Beijing.
