Nadal enters semi-finals of Italian Open

Speed Post News Network

Patna : World No 2 in ATP rankings and 7 time champion Rafael Nadal, 31, Spain, entered the semi-finals of Italian Open masters 1000 defeating World No 21 Fabio Fognini, 30, Italy, in a three-set encounter in the quarterfinals at Foro Italico, Rome, on May 18, 2018. Top seed Nadal beat Fognini 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in two hours fifteen minutes. With this win, Nadal now holds a 11-3 head to head record against Fognini, who had defeated World No 8 Dominic Thiem, 24, Austria, in the second round on May 16, 2018.

Nadal was leading 4-1 in the first set but thereafter Fognini broke his service twice to pocket the first set 6-4. But, a resurgent Nadal brushed Fognini aside in the next two sets 6-1, 6-2 to enter the semi-finals. Nadal had lost in the quarterfinals of this event in 2017. Although Nadal has won Italian open 7 times, he has not won here since 2013. If Nadal wins the Italian Open, he can regain his World N0 1 position.