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ATP Finals 2020: Rafael Nadal & Dominic Thiem win London openers

Rafael Nadal began his bid for the biggest title missing from his vast collection with an ATP Finals win over Russian debutant Andrey Rublev.

Spanish second seed Nadal, 34, won 6-3 6-4 as the season-ending event began in London for the final time.

Earlier on the opening day, third seed Dominic Thiem avenged his defeat by Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas in last year's final with a three-set win.

US Open champion Thiem won 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-3 at an empty O2 Arena.

Nadal's straight-set win moved him above the Austrian at the top of Group London 2020 - named in tribute to the event's 50th anniversary - after the opening matches.