Rafael Nadal is through to the third round of the Paris Masters after a hard-fought win over Adrian Mannarino.
Playing in his first competitive match since the Laver Cup last month, Nadal took some time to get going against his French opponent.
In the first set, Mannarino had to save three set points but Nadal finally made the breakthrough when the world No 43 netted a backhand.
The second set also went with serve until Mannarino gifted Nadal two match points and another forehand error handed victory to the second seed, who will play Stan Wawrinka on Thursday for a place in the quarter-finals.
RAFAEL NADAL VS ADRIAN MANNARINO AS IT HAPPENED
SECOND SET (*denotes server)
NADAL 7-5 6-4 MANNARINO*
Mannarino forehand long, 0-30. Nadal backhand into the net, 15-30. Mannarino backhand wide, two match points. Another Mannarino forehand error. GAME. SET. MATCH NADAL.
*NADAL 7-5 5-4 MANNARINO
Mannarino forehand winner, 15-30. He then puts backhand just wide, 30-all. Nadal slice backhand long, deuce. Time violation for Nadal.
Too good from Nadal as he rifles a forehand for a winner. And then an ace to finish. Class.
NADAL 7-5 4-4 MANNARINO*
Well played Mannarino as he deals with the firepower from Nadal to hold.
*NADAL 7-5 4-3 MANNARINO
Stunning forehand up the line from Mannarino draws the error from Nadal, deuce. But two big serves gets Nadal through.
NADAL 7-5 3-3 MANNARINO*
Some wild shots from Nadal and it allows Mannarino to hold to love.
*NADAL 7-5 3-2 MANNARINO
70 seconds. That’s all Nadal needs to hold to love.
NADAL 7-5 2-2 MANNARINO*
Mannarino is taken to deuce but hangs on when Nadal’s forehand return is just long.
*NADAL 7-5 2-1 MANNARINO
Tougher service game for Nadal as he is taken to 30-30. But Nadal comes through when Mannarino’s backhand return goes long.
NADAL 7-5 1-1 MANNARINO*
Lovely drop volley from Nadal, 15-15. Mannarino backhand into the net, break point Nadal. But he puts a forehand into the tramlines. Mannarino holds on.
*NADAL 7-5 1-0 MANNARINO
Nadal ace to finish the game and get the second set off the best start.
FIRST SET
NADAL 7-5 MANNARINO*
Mannarino forehand wide, 0-40. Three set points. Ace number nine saves the first. Nadal forehand wide saves the second. But this time he gets the job done when Mannarino nets forehand.
*NADAL 6-5 MANNARINO
An ace from Nadal to serve out to 15.
NADAL 5-5 MANNARINO*
Mannarino forehand down the line is long, 0-30. But he responds with a forehand winner and Nadal return into the level.
Big serve makes it 40-30. Back comes Nadal with a forehand winner. Set point Nadal but his forehand return is called long. However, Hawkeye overrules the linesman.
On the replayed point Nadal puts a forehand return into the net. And Mannarino hangs on to his serve with a forehand winner.
*NADAL 5-4 MANNARINO
Very efficient service game from Nadal as he holds to love with a forehand winner.
NADAL 4-4 MANNARINO*
Nadal gets Mannarino on the run but puts a forehand wide, 40-30. Mannarino forehand down the line is just wide, deuce.
First break point for Nadal as he rushes Mannarino with a return. Mannarino ace. Back-to-back aces. THREE aces in a row. Great finish by the French player.
*NADAL 4-3 MANNARINO
Chance for Mannarino at 30-30 but he drags a forehand wide. And it proves costly as a big serve wins the game for Nadal.
NADAL 3-3 MANNARINO*
Mannarino is rattling through his service games and he holds to love.
*NADAL 3-2 MANNARINO
Nadal holds to love with a vintage forehand winner which clips the line.
NADAL 2-2 MANNARINO*
Mannarino puts a forehand wide on the first point but responds to lead 40-15. Nadal forehand winner into the open court, 40-30.
Great rally, 16-shots and Nadal flicks a cross-court backhand for a winner.
*NADAL 2-1 MANNARINO
Nadal volley goes just wide, 30-30. Bad miss on the forehand from Mannarino, 40-30. And Nadal holds when Mannarino makes another backhand error.
NADAL 1-1 MANNARINO*
Impressive start from the Frenchman as he holds to 15.
*NADAL 1-0 MANNARINO
An ace from Nadal to start the match and backhand winner to finish the game.
18:45: Nadal gets a huge reception as he walks on with Mannarino.
18:35: A short break before Nadal comes onto court after the late finish to the day session.
18:20: It is all over as Djokovic wins 7-6 6-4 over Moutet. Djokovic will play either Kyle Edmund and Diego Schwartzman in the third round.
18:10: The day session in Paris is still going on with Novak Djokovic facing Corentin Moutet. The world No 1 is in control of the match after winning the first set in a tiebreak.
18:00: Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of Rafael Nadal’s second-round clash against Adrian Mannarino at the Paris Masters.
