Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal will be looking to win his second Rio Open title Getty

Spaniard Rafael Nadal will take on fellow countryman Pablo Carreno Busta in the opening round of the Rio Open on 16 February, Tuesday.

Where to watch

The match is scheduled to start at 11.30pm GMT. Live coverage of the game in UK is available on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 1 HD. Live scores and real time updates are available on the ATP World Tour's official website.

Overview

Number one seed Rafael Nadal faces fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta in the opening round of the Rio Open. It is safe to say that Nadal has not had a good 2016 so far, losing in the semi-final of the Argentina Open last week while getting knocked out by unfancied Fernando Verdasco in the first round of the Australian Open.

The former world number one has looked a shadow of his old self in the recent past. In his defence, persistent knee injuries have taken a toll on the player's body over the years. Nadal, who won the inaugural Rio open in 2014, will be looking to capture his second title and kick-start his campaign.

His opponent, Pablo Carreno Busta, has not been in the best of form either, failing to progress beyond the quarters in all four tournaments he has played in 2016. The world number 66 is yet to win an ATP title, and can upset his fellow countryman on his day.

Betting Odds (888sport)

  • Rafael Nadal to win: 1/19
  • Pablo Carreno-Busta to win:11

Head-to-Head

The duo have met twice, with Rafael Nadal coming out on top on both those encounters.

Rio Open History

Nadal and Busta faced off in the round of 16 in 2015, the former world number one winning that encounter 7-5, 6-3.

Rafael Nadal ATP World Tour Finals