Chile marks a new beginning for Nadal

Rafael Nadal's return to action after a seven-month injury layoff will be the focus of attention in tennis in Chile this week.

Rafael Nadal's return to action after a seven-month injury layoff will be the focus of attention in tennis in Chile this week.

The 11-time Grand Slam champion has been on the sidelines since he was beaten in the second round at Wimbledon by Czech journeyman Lukas Rosol in late June.

During that time, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have won Grand Slam titles and, as the other member of the sport's Big Four, the question is whether the Spaniard will ever be able to compete again at the highest level. Nadal, who will be 27 in June, has been careful to play down expectations.

Yes, he still has some pain from his troublesome knees and no, he does not expect to immediately rediscover his old winning ways in his first tournament back at Vina del Mar in Chile, the starter for the claycourt season that climaxes with the French Open in Paris in May/June.

Somdev advancesZagreb: Somdev Devvarman of India came back from a set and a break down to defeat two-time Zagreb Indoors finalist Michael Berrer in the first round on Tueday. Berrer retired because of fatigue when trailing 0-6, 7-6 (6), 4-1.

Fifth-seeded Martin Klizan of Slovakia also came back from a set and a break down to beat Italian lucky-loser Matteo Viola 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1. In other matches, Igor Sijsling of the Netherlands defeated Nikola Mektic of Croatia 6-4, 6-2 and Philipp Petzschner of Germany beat Mate Pavic of Croatia 7-5, 6-2.