RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Rafael Nadal showed no signs of a tender back Tuesday, defeating fellow Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-3, 7-5 in the first round of the Rio Open. It was No. 1-ranked Nadals first match since losing three weeks ago in the Australia Open final against Stanislas Wawrinka, a match the Spaniard was a heavy favourite to win. Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the final in Australia, bringing up questions again about his health to start a season. A year ago he was coming back from a left knee injury, which he overcame to win the French and US Open. "Daniel is a specialist on clay, so for me it was a great match after so much time off after the final in Australia because of the back problems," Nadal said. "I practiced very little. So I was happy to get back, and get back with a victory." Nadal looked fine on the outdoor red clay and seems headed for a possible final Sunday against fellow Spaniard David Ferrer. Ferrer defeated Jeremy Chardy in his first-round match 6-2, 6-3. Nadal broke Gimeno-Traver in the sixth game en route to taking the first set. The two were even in the second set until Nadal broke in the 11th game and then served out to win. Nadal has the best clay-court record in the Open Era, 294-21. "For Rio, for the Brazilian people, for everybody its nice because hes No. 1 in the world," third-seeded Fabio Fognini said of Nadal. "For the tournament, especially because its the first year, I think it will help." Other seeded players advancing on Tuesday included: No. 3 Fognini, No. 4 Tommy Robredo, No. 7 Juan Monaco and 8 Pablo Andujar. Ousted were No. 5 Nicolas Almagro and No. 6 Marcel Granollers. In the combined WTA event, top-seeded Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic won her first-round match, beating Colombias Mariana Duque-Marino 6-4, 6-4. Second-seeded Francesca Schiavone of Italy was eliminated in a 6-4, 6-4 to Spains Lourdes Dominguez Lino. Unseeded Teliana Pereira defeated No. 4 Alexandra Cadantu 6-3, 6-4 to become the first Brazilian woman ranked in the top 100 in 23 years. The last was Andrea Vieira. Brazils most famous womens player is Maria Bueno, who won seven Grand Slams, the last at the US Open in 1966. Roquan Smith Bears Jersey .A. Happs hold on a spot in the Blue Jays starting rotation is in question. James Daniels Jersey . It was my fifth straight year attending and, as always, there are many interesting matters discussed as it pertains to the use of statistics in sports. http://www.bearsrookiestore.com/Bears-Allen-Robinson-Jersey/ . -- Without Carey Price, the run for a first Stanley Cup in 21 years got steeper and longer for the Montreal Canadiens. Cody Parkey Bears Jersey .Y. - Joe Johnson hit six 3-pointers in his 27 points, Mason Plumlee added 18 points, and the Brooklyn Nets won their 11th straight at home, beating the Boston Celtics 114-98 Friday night. Allen Robinson Bears Jersey . The third-seeded Bouchard, from Westmount, Que., was coming off a semifinal appearance at the French Open. She took the opening set before the unseeded American came back for the 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory.DOBBIACO, Italy -- Another podium finish for Canadian Alex Harvey on Friday. Harvey, of St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., finished third in the gruelling 35-kilometre freestyle pursuit. The race was fifth of seven stages in the Tour de Ski circuit. Harvey, 25, started 35 seconds behind leader Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway. He tucked himself into a group of seven athletes, conserving energy for the first 18-kilometre high-speed climb on the mountain pass before the descent into Toblach. "My plan was to fight for dear life and hang on to that group," said Harvey. "It went a lot easier on the climb than I thought. "Its a unique race that we only do once a year and you really never know how far in you are. It is a challenge mentally and fun to chase people down and form little groups." Harvey also won gold in the prologue race at the Tour opener in Oberhof, Germany and was second in the sprint race in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. With heavy snow and warm conditions projected for the 10-kilometre classic-ski race in Val di Fiemme, Italy on Saturday, recovery will be critical for the final two stages. "Im really happy with how things went," said Harvey, who is third in the overall standings. "Heading into the Tour I was hoping for a few top-five finishes, but to be in the top-three overall the whole way is exciting." Johnsrud Sundby won the race to increase his overall lead, showing hell be a medal contender at next months Sochi Olympics. Sundby poosted a time of one hour, 20 minutes, 18.dddddddddddd7 seconds. Compatriot Petter Northug beat Harvey in a sprint for second, finishing 58.2 seconds behind Johnsrud Sundby. Harvey was third, 58.7 behind. "I tried to keep a steady pace," Sundby said. "Luckily I had a good day and was able to keep the gap." Still, Harvey registered his 10th career World Cup podium. He has two world championship medals. Devon Kershaw, of Sudbury, Ont., was 23rd in 1:23:24.0. Ivan Babikov, of Canmore, Alta., finished 28th in 1:23:25.0 despite skiing four of the first five kilometres without a pole. Sundby moved 1:03.2 ahead of Northug in the overall standings, with Harvey in third, 1:08.7 behind. In the womens 15-kilometre free pursuit, Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen of Norway maintained her overall lead by winning in 37:30.3. Two-time runner-up Therese Johaug, also of Norway, finished second, 38.7 behind, and Anne Kyllonen of Finland was third, 1:12.2 behind. In the overall standings, Jacobsen holds a 43.7-second lead over Johaug, with Kyllonen 1:22.2 behind in third. The Tour concludes over the weekend in Val di Fiemme, highlighted by the traditional climb up Mount Cermis on Sunday. "I still hold (Johaug) as the favourite with her climbing ability for the final stages," Jacobsen said. 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