Rafael Nadal has begun the new year with a win, defeating Milos Raonic in straight sets at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi over the weekend.
© AFP
The world number five warmed up for the new season with a 7-6(2) 6-3 victory in 90 minutes at the exhibition event on Saturday, having defeated compatriot David Ferrer in the semi-finals a day earlier.
Nadal told the tournament's official website: "It's a great feeling. It's a great way to start the new season winning against two of the best players in the world without a doubt, and playing at the right level - I played a good level of tennis and I'm happy for that.
"I'm happy to win the title here in Abu Dhabi again. I tried hard every year [to win] but I feel that I arrived in very good shape this year."
© AFP
Nadal, whose 2015 season was plagued by injury and poor form, will now head to Doha for the Qatar Open, where he is seeded second behind world number one Novak Djokovic.
Neil Wilkes
