Rome: Spanish World No.4 Rafael Nadal reached the third round of the Rome Masters tennis tournament after compatriot Nicolas Almagro pulled out due to a left knee injury injury here Wednesday. Almagro was trailing 0-3 at the time of pulling out. The 30-year-old Nadal will next play against the winner of the duel between American Jack Sock and Czech Jiri Vesely. This incidentally was Nadal’s 22nd successive on clay this season.
Also advancing was Japanese Kei Nishikori after beating World No.30 Spaniard David Ferrer. The World No.9 achieved a 7-5, 6-2 win in 81 minutes over the Spaniard, who Tuesday become the 13th player in ATP World Tour history to reach the 700-match win milestone. Ferrer had defeated countryman Feliciano Lopez 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
This is Nishikori’s 10th victory in his career against Ferrer. The Japanese will next meet Aregntine Juan Martin Del Potro who beat British Kyle Edmund five and four.
Earlier late Tuesday, defending champion Andy Murray was eliminated after losing 2-6, 4-6 to Fabio Fognini in a second round match. The Scotsman and current World No.1 took the title here last year without losing a set, but has yet to return to top form after coming back from an elbow injury.
The 29-year-old underdog broke Murray’s serve early and jumped out to a 4-0 lead on the way to winning the first set 6-2. The 30-year-old Murray trailed 1-4 in the second set before breaking Fognini’s serve and battling back to 4-5, but the Italian hung on to win the set and the match.
IANS
