Nadal saved a set point in the first set tiebreak and fought back from a second set break before finishing the game in one hour and 44 minutes.
“Very happy to start the season with a title … and where we come from, it’s very special,” said Nadal. “Tonight I think I played my best game so far since I got here, without a doubt, against a very difficult player.”
“Obviously if we put everything together and analyze all the things I’ve been through in the last five months, including the Covid after Abu Dhabi, I’m happy,” he added.
“Of course there was still doubt, but for many months even more doubt whether I will be able to return.”
But Nadal insisted there is still much to do as he looks to regain competitive edge and expand his roster to 20 majors, a record he currently shares with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
“Well, exactly where I would like to be is to be 100 percent healthy…playing until the end of the season and without coming back after five, six months out of competition…I have a lot of things to keep improving. .. and I’m going to do my best.”