Rafael Nadal returned from a troublesome back injury to win the Rio Open on Sunday, defeating Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3, 7-6 (3).
Nadal's victory comes four weeks after he lost the Australian Open, beaten in that final by underdog Stanislas Wawrinka after tweaking his back while warming up.
Winner: Rafa Nadal poses with his trophy after beating Alexandr Dolgopolov
Behind me: Nadal seems to have overcome the back injury that cost him in the Australian Open final
Nadal, who had to fend off two match points in the semifinal against Pablo Andujar, looked more comfortable in the final and improved his record on clay to 298-21, the best in the Open Era. Dolgopolov has lost all five matches against Nadal.
In the women's final at the combined ATP-WTA event, Kurumi Nara of Japan defeated top-seeded Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 to win her first WTA singles title.
The top-ranked Nadal used the Latin American clay-court swing to launch his comeback a year ago from a left knee injury. It went just fine with titles in the French and US Open.
He'll take the same approach this season, hoping injuries don't slow him as he looks for his 14th Grand Slam title in the French Open in three months.
At a loss: Ukrainian Dolgopolov has lost all five matches against Nadal
Nara, the 22-year-old Japanese, was seeded fifth in the tournament and is Japan's top-ranked woman at No. 62. She prefers to play on hard courts but has adapted to the heat and clay in Rio.
'I love Rio,' Nara said, cracking a huge smile. 'I can't believe I won the tournament, but I am very happy.'
The victory is projected to push Nara into the top 50 - probably No. 48 - when the WTA publishes its rankings on Monday.
'I don't want to think too much about being No. 1 in Japan,' Nara said. 'I just want to focus on my game - every game.'
Cross-code: Brazilian football legend Ronaldo watches the Rio Open men's singles final
Captured: The former Real Madrid clearly wanted to get a memory of the Rio Open final
Nara said she thrived on the hot, humid weather in Rio and said Japanese players are getting better on clay because a new clay-court facility has been built in the country.
Maria Bueno, Brazil's greatest female player who won seven Grand Slam singles titles - her last in the US Open in 1966 - helped hand the winning trophy to Nara.
Zakopalova won two WTA titles 10 years ago, but has now lost 12 consecutive singles finals. In parts of the match she seemed unwell, probably bothered by the 32 Celsius (90 Fahrenheit) heat and intense humidity.
'I have an asthma problem so I couldn't breathe,' Zakopalova said. "But it's not an excuse. Well done to Kurumi. She deserved it. She played really well.'
Line up: Nadal, Brazilian and former player Gustavo Kuerten and Alexandr Dolgopolov pose after the final
Nearly out: Nadal had to fend off two match points in the semi-final against Pablo Andujar
Nadal's victory comes four weeks after he lost the Australian Open, beaten in that final by underdog Stanislas Wawrinka after tweaking his back while warming up.
Winner: Rafa Nadal poses with his trophy after beating Alexandr Dolgopolov
Behind me: Nadal seems to have overcome the back injury that cost him in the Australian Open final
Nadal, who had to fend off two match points in the semifinal against Pablo Andujar, looked more comfortable in the final and improved his record on clay to 298-21, the best in the Open Era. Dolgopolov has lost all five matches against Nadal.
In the women's final at the combined ATP-WTA event, Kurumi Nara of Japan defeated top-seeded Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 to win her first WTA singles title.
The top-ranked Nadal used the Latin American clay-court swing to launch his comeback a year ago from a left knee injury. It went just fine with titles in the French and US Open.
He'll take the same approach this season, hoping injuries don't slow him as he looks for his 14th Grand Slam title in the French Open in three months.
At a loss: Ukrainian Dolgopolov has lost all five matches against Nadal
Nara, the 22-year-old Japanese, was seeded fifth in the tournament and is Japan's top-ranked woman at No. 62. She prefers to play on hard courts but has adapted to the heat and clay in Rio.
'I love Rio,' Nara said, cracking a huge smile. 'I can't believe I won the tournament, but I am very happy.'
The victory is projected to push Nara into the top 50 - probably No. 48 - when the WTA publishes its rankings on Monday.
'I don't want to think too much about being No. 1 in Japan,' Nara said. 'I just want to focus on my game - every game.'
Cross-code: Brazilian football legend Ronaldo watches the Rio Open men's singles final
Captured: The former Real Madrid clearly wanted to get a memory of the Rio Open final
Nara said she thrived on the hot, humid weather in Rio and said Japanese players are getting better on clay because a new clay-court facility has been built in the country.
Maria Bueno, Brazil's greatest female player who won seven Grand Slam singles titles - her last in the US Open in 1966 - helped hand the winning trophy to Nara.
Zakopalova won two WTA titles 10 years ago, but has now lost 12 consecutive singles finals. In parts of the match she seemed unwell, probably bothered by the 32 Celsius (90 Fahrenheit) heat and intense humidity.
'I have an asthma problem so I couldn't breathe,' Zakopalova said. "But it's not an excuse. Well done to Kurumi. She deserved it. She played really well.'
Line up: Nadal, Brazilian and former player Gustavo Kuerten and Alexandr Dolgopolov pose after the final
Nearly out: Nadal had to fend off two match points in the semi-final against Pablo Andujar
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