Rafael Nadal eased into the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open ©Getty Images

Spain’s Rafael Nadal got his Mutua Madrid Open campaign off to an ideal start as the home favourite raced to a straight sets victory over Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov at Manolo Santana today.

Having been awarded a bye through the opening round of the tournament, the Monte Carlo Masters winner quickly got into his stride on the clay against Kuznetsov, who had beaten Serbia’s Viktor Troicki yesterday, Nadal taking the opening set 6-3.

The Spanish star continued to control the match in the second and secured the set 6-3 to get his pursuit of a second consecutive ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament off to an ideal start.

He is now due to meet the winner of tomorrow’s match between America’s Sam Querrey and France’s Lucas Pouille.

Juan Martin Del Potro continued his progression following a lengthy absence from the game due to wrist surgery, the big-hitting Argentinian securing a 7-6, 6-3 win over the 14th seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem in his first round match.

Del Potro, winner of the US Open in 2009, will face Jack Sock in the second round after the American earned a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 win over France’s Benoît Paire.

France’s Gael Monfils continued his fine form, having ended as the runner-up in Monte Carlo, by defeating South Africa’s Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-1.

Monfils will face Pablo Cuevas in the second round, with the Uruguayan having won 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 against Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Romania's Simona Halep enjoyed a straight sets win over Italy's Karin Knapp
Romania's Simona Halep enjoyed a straight sets win over Italy's Karin Knapp ©Getty Images

In another first round match Croatia’s Borna Coric overcame Spain’s Nicolas Almagro 6-2, 6-2, to earn the right to face world number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia tomorrow.

Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulková surprisingly was unable to replicate the form which saw her stun top seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in the first round draw, during the first set of her tie against France’s Caroline Garcia.

After losing the opening set 6-0, Cibulková grabbed the initiative in the second and completed a stunning turnaround by winning 0-6, 6-3, 6-4.

She will now face Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who benefited from the withdrawal of her second round opponent Camila Giorgi of Italy.

Sixth seed Simona Halep of Romania also enjoyed a straightforward day on clay, cruising to a 6-1, 6-1 win over Italy's Karin Knapp, to set up a match against Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky.