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Nadal logs victory in first singles match

Spaniard Rafael Nadal hits a shot during his French Open men's final match against Serbian Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros in Paris on June 11, 2012. Nadal defeated Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in a match that was delayed one day because of rain to win his record 7th French Open title. UPI/David Silpa
Spaniard Rafael Nadal hits a shot during his French Open men's final match against Serbian Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros in Paris on June 11, 2012. Nadal defeated Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in a match that was delayed one day because of rain to win his record 7th French Open title. UPI/David Silpa | License Photo

VINA DEL MAR, Chile, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal won in his first singles appearance since June, rolling to a second-round victory Wednesday at the VTR Open in Chile.

The top-seeded Spanish superstar breezed to a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis on the clay courts of Vina del Mar, swatting four aces en route to the win.

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Nadal made his long-anticipated return to tennis after sitting out seven months with a knee injury. The current world No. 5 chose to make his reappearance in South America, where he hasn't competed since 2005 as an 18-year-old.

His next opponent will be the winner of a second-round test between fellow Spaniards Daniel Gimeno-Traver and Albert Montanes.

Also Wednesday, defending Vina del Mar champion and No. 3 seed Juan Monaco of Argentina succumbed to Frenchman Guillaume Rufin in an upset, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.

In other second-round action, eighth-seeded Carlos Berlocq advanced with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win over Colombian Santiago Giraldo.

The wrap-up of first-round play saw No. 5 seed Albert Ramos, sixth-seeded Paolo Lorenzi and Gimeno-Traver record victories.

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