Rafael Nadal made a successful debut in Olympic singles on Monday, overcoming numerous missed chances by sweeping the final four games to beat Potito Starace of Italy 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
Top-seeded Roger Federer had an easier time. He began a bid for his first Olympic medal by beating Dmitry Tursunov 6-4, 6-2.
Regardless of the outcome in Beijing, the No 2-seeded Nadal will supplant Federer atop the rankings next week. No 4-seeded Serena Williams won all four games when her match resumed after an overnight wait to complete a rain-interrupted victory over Olga Govortsova of Belarus, 6-3, 6-1.
Like Nadal, Williams was playing her first singles match at the Olympics. She won a gold medal in doubles in 2000 with her sister Venus.
No 6 Dinara Safina of Russia won her 11th match in a row by beating Mara Santangelo of Italy 6-3, 7-6 (1). Safina has won her past two tournaments.
Nicolas Massu of Chile opened his bid to repeat as Olympic champion by beating Steve Darcis of Belgium 6-4, 7-5. Massu won the gold at Athens in both singles and doubles.
No 7 David Nalbandian of Argentina defeated Zeng Shaoxuan of China 6-2, 6-1. Chinese men finished the tournament 0-3.
Playing the morning match on centre court, Nadal struggled on the backhand side and shook his head or rolled his eyes when usually reliable strokes misfired.
Nadal failed to convert seven consecutive break-point opportunities before he broke for a 4-2 lead in the final set.
He erased a 15-40 deficit on his serve in the next game, then broke again for the victory.
A highlight-reel shot got him going early in the third set. Nadal sprinted into the alley near the net in pursuit of a ball and scooped a forehand winner cross-court as he braked to avoid running into the post, then fell to his back. He rose and threw a jubilant fist, leaving behind a spot in the concrete damp with his sweat.
Nadal is seeking his eighth tournament title this year. He beat Federer in the finals at the French Open and Wimbledon.
The latter result sent Federer into a slump that will cost him the top ranking. The stylish Swiss has won only two tournaments in 2008, and an Olympic gold medal would help him salvage the year after he was shut out of the medal chase at Sydney in 2000 and at Athens in 2004.
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