Italy's Fabio Fognini was defeated by the Spaniard 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1, but only after the Italian suffered an unusual self-inflicted injury when leading 3-4 in the fourth set.
Nadal had to take a medical break to have the wound treated before finishing the game while wearing a bandage across his nose.
Nadal stated, "I felt a little dizzy and it was a little unpleasant," adding that he has previously suffered from a similar sickness caused by a golf club.