Tennis: Nadal wins in singles debut at Brazil Open

SAO PAULO (AFP) - Spain's Rafael Nadal scored an easy two-set victory in his singles debut at the Brazil Open late Thursday.

The former world No. 5 needed only 78 minutes to prevail over Brazilian Joao Souza, ranked 101st in the world 6-3, 6-4.

Nadal advanced to the quarter-finals which will be played Friday.

"It was an important victory for me," Nadal said. "the conditions are very difficult. The court is very fast, the ball too."