the Australian Open

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Rafael Nadal is taking it easy at the Rio Open, nursing a back injury and hoping it gets better. Mychal Givens Jersey . No. 1-ranked Nadal defeated fellow Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver in his first-round match on Tuesday night, his first in more than three weeks after losing the Australian Open final to Stanislaw Wawrinka. Nadal was an overwhelming favourite in Australia to win his 14th Grand Slam title, but he picked up the back strain warming up and was never the same. "When one comes back from an injury in a short period of time, you can always feel a need to be cautious," he said. "I felt it (the back) a bit. But I hope things continue to improve day by day. Little by little the back will be strong again. Ill get used to the competition and the back wont keep me from playing future tournaments." The Spaniards next test is on Thursday against countryman Albert Montanes. "I had a problem from Australia," Nadal said. "I tried to work on it at home and Im back playing again. At the beginning one is a bit afraid coming back from a problem. Ive worked hard to try to come back." Nadal was sidelined for much of the 2012 season with a left knee injury. He used the Latin American clay-court circuit as his testing ground for the knee early in 2013. It went OK. He won the French and US Open. Hes at it again early in 2014 with his back, reminding some that Nadals big swings and aggressive play may be taking a toll on his 27-year-old body. Nadal said after Tuesdays match -- his 800th -- that hed played better than hed practiced. "Of course there are aspects of the game I have to improve," he said. "Its been a long time since Ive played on the surface (clay), so Its normal to return without the best feeling." Melvin Mora Jersey . -- Maxence Parrot of Bromont, Que. Robin Roberts Jersey . - Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II says the NFL has told the team it will not be docked a pick in this years draft for coach Mike Tomlins foray onto the field against Baltimore last November.TORONTO - Toronto FC is close to full health for its home opener Saturday against D.C. United. Brazilian forward Gilberto and English fullback Bradley Orr have both recovered from injury. The only players still missing are backup midfielder Jeremy Hall and teenage striker Jordan Hamilton, both of whom are nursing hamstring injurries. George Kell Jersey. Hall is expected to be back in training Monday. A bigger question-mark is the grass pitch at BMO Field. Close to five centimetres of snow is expected overnight. Toronto won its MLS season opener last weekend, winning 2-1 in Seattle. D.C. United lost its opener 3-0 to the visiting Chicago Fire. ' ' '