Rafael Nadal beaten by Diego Schwartzman in Rome quarter-final

Rafael Nadal crashed out in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open as he suffered a straight-sets defeat to Diego Schwartzman.
Nadal, the defending champion and nine-time winner, was beaten 6-2 7-5 by Schwartzman in Rome after two hours and four minutes.
The Spaniard had won all nine of his previous meetings against the Argentinian, who will now face Canada’s Denis Shapovalov for a place in the final.
🚨 Upset alert 🚨@dieschwartzman beats #Nadal 6-2 7-5🤜💥🤛#IBI20 pic.twitter.com/t8TA4X86q9
ā Internazionali Bnl (@InteBNLdItalia) September 19, 2020
Shapovalov triumphed against Grigor Dimitrov, defeating the Bulgarian 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
Novak Djokovic earlier dropped his first set of the tournament but recovered to beat qualifier Dominik Koepfer.
The omens were certainly not good for German Koepfer when he lost the first four games of the match, but he responded by breaking Djokovic twice in a row to serve notice that this might not be a straightforward afternoon for the world number one.
Djokovic moved 3-1 ahead in the second set but smashed his racket to the court after dropping serve in the next game.
The world No. 1 continues his quest in Rome! 👊@DjokerNole | #IBI20 pic.twitter.com/eNy8FAKFjj
ā US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 19, 2020
Koepfer capitalised to level the match but Djokovic kept his cool and eventually came through 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to set up a clash with Norwegian Casper Ruud.
It will be Djokovic’s 69th semi-final at Masters level and 11th in Rome alone, but this is new territory for Ruud.
The 21-year-old became the first Norwegian player to make the semi-finals at this level with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) victory over Italian number one Matteo Berrettini.
Ruud said: “This is my first time in the semi-finals, and today was even my first time in the quarter-finals. I’m just enjoying the moment. I’m in a good flow. I have gained good confidence in my game this week.
“I have just been motivated and pumped up for the clay to start again, and it’s a different time than what it usually is, but it’s still the same beautiful place, same beautiful venue and beautiful city.”
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
ATP Tour
Montreal Masters: How to watch Cameron Norrie in action
Cameron Norrie is the first of three Brits in action in the singles in Montreal today.
-
Tennis News
Mike Tyson marvels at transformative power of tennis
Mike Tyson’s daughter Milan is a budding tennis star.
-
WTA Tour
Coco Gauff moves on but Emma Raducanu suffers first-round exit in Toronto
The British number one was beaten 7-6 (0) 6-2 by Camila Giorgi but fellow teen sensation Coco Gauff moved on.
-
ATP Tour
Nick Kyrgios has mixed feelings ahead of Daniil Medvedev showdown
Nick Kyrgios faces a test of his rich vein of form.
-
News
Cameron Norrie carries British hopes in Montreal as Andy Murray falls
Norrie is chasing his third ATP Tour title of the year after going down in straight sets to Daniil Medvedev in the final in Los Cabos.
-
US Open
Serena Williams retirement: Greg Rusedski not discounting ‘box office’ Serena to retire on a high at US Open
Serena Williams to bow out on a high by winning the US Open?
-
News
Serena Williams retirement: Tennis might never see such a remarkable icon ever again
The remarkable career of Serena Williams is drawing to a close.
-
WTA Tour
Serena Williams’ greatest milestones as she prepares to bid farewell: Open Era Grand Slam record, prize money
Serena Williams has had quite a career.
-
WTA Tour
Serena Williams confirms she will retire after US Open, but doesn’t want ‘ceremonial, final on-court moment’
Time to shed a tear or two, the great Serena Wiliams is to retire after the US Open.