( CNN ) -- Former world No . 1 Rafael Nadal was back in singles action for the first time in seven months Wednesday , making a winning return on the clay courts he has dominated so emphatically in recent years . Having not played a singles match since his shock defeat to Lukas Rosol in the second round of Wimbledon last year due to a left knee injury , a little rustiness was perhaps to be expected . But , after losing the first two games of his match with Argentine Federico Delbonis , the 11-time grand slam champion recovered to record a morale-boosting 6-3 6-2 victory in the second round of the Chile Open in Vina del Mar . `` I 'm happy to play a singles match after so long , '' the 26-year-old told the ATP World Tour 's website . `` I need days and time to get my game back , but so far the feeling on court is great . '' The Spaniard , who has dropped to fifth in the world rankings during his long absence , made his much-anticipated return in a doubles match Tuesday . Nadal partnered up with Argentina 's Juan Monaco to beat the Czech pairing of Frantisek Cermak and Lukas Dlouhy . `` For now the most important thing is to spend as much time as possible on court , '' added Nadal . `` This victory allows me to play at least two more matches , singles and doubles . `` To practice is one thing but to play is totally different . In a real match you ca n't control your body as you do in practice . '' Nadal 's focus will be firmly on the French Open , the year 's second grand slam which begins in May in Paris . The Mallorca native has ruled the Roland Garros event in recent years , winning seven of the last eight events . His hopes of marking his comeback by claiming the title in Chile were boosted by the defeat of World No.15 Monaco . The defending champion and second seed was shocked 7-6 6-4 by the 93rd ranked Guillaume Rufin of France , who recorded just his second career win over a top 20 player .
Rafael González wins on his return to singles competition . The former world No . 1 defeated Argentine Federico Delbonis 6 - 3 6 - 2 . The 11-time grand slam champion has been out for seven weeks with a back injury . The Spaniard makes his return in a doubles victory on Tuesday .