NEW YORK(AP) Rafael Nadal has made a successful return to Grand Slam tennis, beating Richard Gasquet 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 in the first round of the U.S. Open.
Wednesday's action was Nadal's first match at a major tournament since he was upset in the fourth round of the French Open on May 31.
The six-time Grand Slam champion then skipped Wimbledon, deciding not to defend his title there because of tendinitis in both knees.
The layoff led to Nadal's drop in the rankings from No. 1 to No. 3.
He appeared to be moving well against Gasquet, who recently came off a 2 1/2-month suspension for testing positive for cocaine. Gasquet appealed what would have been a longer ban, saying the drug entered his system when he kissed a woman at a nightclub.