Nadal makes impressive return to grass

Rafael Nadal's day-glo outfit and his ferocious forehands lit up a gloomy Queen's Club today as the Spaniard marked his return to grasscourt tennis with a 6-2 6-2 demolition of Brazilian journeyman Marcos Daniel.

The 2008 champion was unable to defend his title 12 months ago when his creaking knees ruled him out of playing any competitive matches on the manicured lawns of Queen's or down the road at Wimbledon.

A year on, the man who lifted a fifth French Open crown and regained the world number one ranking at the weekend was eager to make up for lost time.

He bounded on to court sporting a luminous green jacket, bag and bandana and appeared to be in a race against time to finish off the match before the heavens opened over west London.

His charge was briefly halted at 2-1 in the second set but after a 15-minute rain burst, he returned to court and ended Daniel's torment with a crafty service return.