ROME: Rafael Nadal is out of the Italian Open. The seven-time champion was defeated by Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals.
Nadal who has won 17 straight matches was previously unbeaten on clay this year which included his wins over Thiem in the finals of Madrid and Barcelona Open’s. However, in the Italian Open the fortunes for the Austrian turned favourably with a straight-set defeat of 6-4 6-3 over the Spaniard.
In the semi-final, Thiem will face either world number two Novak Djokovic or Juan Martin del Potro who will resume their quarter-final match on Saturday after rain forced their match to be postponed. At match stoppage the Serb was in lead 6-1, 1-2.
In the other semi-final, John Isner who beat Marin Cilic 7-6, (7-3), 2-6, 7-6, (7-2) will meet Alexander Zverev, who defeated Milos Raonic 7-6, (7-4), 6-1.
