Rafael Nadal suffers shock defeat in Chile Open final

Former world number 1 Rafael Nadal was on the wrong end of a huge upset in Sunday's VTR Open final in Vina del Mar, Chile, as underdog Horacio Zeballos clinched an unlikely three sets win. Nadal never dropped a set during the tournament and he looked on course to win again after claiming the first set 7-6 against Zeballos, but the Argentine player didn't give up and claimed the following two sets 7-6 and 6-4. It was the first ever ATP title for Zeballos, who defeated four seeded opponents on the way to the title: number 4 seed Andujar, number 5 seed Ramos, number 8 seed Berlocq and finally number 1 seed Nadal. However, Nadal was playing his first tournament in seven months, having been sidelined since July 2012 with a left knee injury and then hindered in his recovery by a stomach virus. Nadal also lost the doubles final as Italian duo Paolo Lorenzi and Potito Starace beat Nadal and Juan Monaco in the doubles final to win their first team trophy. “It's a dream for me," Zeballos said after the match. "To be able to play a final against Nadal was already good enough for me. It's a moment that will stay in my memory for the rest of my life. I've worked really hard because I really wanted to be at this level. For some months, I've been playing at a high level and I think I'm at the best moment of my career. I'm very strong physically and psychologically.” Rafael Nadal remains positive and optimistic despite the defeat: “It was a great tournament for me. If we take everything, it was positive. It's true I wanted to win the final but in wasn't possible. He made things better than me and I didn't play my best match. I just need to keep working, practising with hope, motivation and the right attitude to have better sensations every week. I hope it's the beginning of a lot of good things for me.” Nadal takes part in another clay court tournament this week, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the bookmakers have him as favourite. Bet365 are pricing Nadal at 1/2 for an outright tournament victory, with Nicolas Almagro at 5/1 and surprise package Horacio Zeballos at 20/1.