Hamburg: Rafael Nadal had to recover from a set down against fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco before easing through to the second round of the bet-at-home Open in Hamburg.


Rafael Nadal returns to Verdasco. Pic/AFP 

Top seed Nadal, whose last appearance in the event was when he lifted the title in 2008, was playing his first match since his surprise second-round defeat to Dustin Brown at Wimbledon and he found it tough going initially.