Wednesday, August 9 2006 16:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Toronto: Rafael Nadal, playing for the first time since his runner-up finish at Wimbledon, gets his return off to a winning start with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Nicolas Massu at the ATP Masters Series here Tuesday (08 Aug, 2006).

The 20-year-old French Open champion overpowers the 2004 Olympic gold medallist from Chile with his heavy groundstrokes to set up a second-round meeting with South Korean qualifier Hyung-Taik Lee. Nadal hadn't played since July 9, when he lost to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final.

Overall, he is pleased to get through a potentially tricky encounter. "When I saw the draw, I said it's not an easy match, but if I win, it's going to be important because I'm going to run, I'm going to put a lot of balls in because Massu is a clay court player too. It's important for the rhythm," he says.

"After one month, it's difficult to get the rhythm, the important thing is to win, and I won, so I am happy for that." Nadal says.

Federer, who celebrates his 25th birthday on Tuesday (08 Aug, 2006), is to make his return to competition for the first time since his All-England triumph later in the day, facing France's Paul-Henri Mathieu. Federer won this title two years ago at Toronto. Last year, in Federer's absence, Nadal beat Andre Agassi in Montreal to win his first hardcourt title. Belgian Xavier Malisse fashions the first upset of the day, ousting sixth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 7-5. Germany's Tommy Haas, seeking to build on his victory in the Los Angeles ATP tournament two weeks ago, beat Max Mirnyi of Belarus 6-3, 6-3. Haas's compatriot Denis Gremelmayr, who fails to make it through qualifying, is inserted into the draw as a lucky loser Tuesday morning replacing eighth-seeded Czech Radek Stepanek.

Gremelmayr, ranks 117th in the world, made the most of his opportunity, beating Belgian Kristolv Vliegen 7-6 (7/2), 6-2. French lucky loser Nicolas Mahut cannot capitalize on his chance. A quarter-finalist at Indianapolis in July, Mahut is dominated 6-3, 6-3 by Czech qualifier Jan Hernych. Hernych books a shot at Italian Davide Sanguinetti, who upsets ailing third seed David Nalbandian of Argentina on Monday.