(Eurosport) – Seven-time champion Rafael Nadal is out of the Italian Open after a straight-set defeat by Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals. It is Rafa’s first defeat of the season on clay and only the third and fourth sets that he has dropped on clay across the entire season. It also brings to an end Rafa’s run of 17 straight victories.
Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a shot during his quarter final match against Dominic Thiem of Austriain The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2017 at Foro Italico on May 19, 2017 in Rome, Italy. (May 18, 2017 – Source: Gareth Copley/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a shot during his quarter final match against Dominic Thiem of Austriain The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2017 at Foro Italico on May 19, 2017 in Rome, Italy. (May 18, 2017 – Source: Gareth Copley/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return to Dominic Thiem of Austria during their quarter-final tennis match at the ATP Tennis Open tournament on May 19, 2017 at the Foro Italico in Rome..Austria’s Dominic Thiem sent Rafael Nadal crashing out of the Rome Masters with a 6-4, 6-3 quarter-final victory, ending the Spaniard’s 17-match winning run. / AFP PHOTO / TIZIANA FABI (May 18, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after a point during his quarter-final against Dominic Thiem of Austria during the ATP Tennis Open tournament on May 19, 2017 at the Foro Italico in Rome..Austria’s Dominic Thiem sent Rafael Nadal crashing out of the Rome Masters with a 6-4, 6-3 quarter-final victory, ending the Spaniard’s 17-match winning run. / AFP PHOTO / TIZIANA FABI (May 18, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Rafael Nadal of Spain serves during his quarter final match against Dominic Thiem of Austriain The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2017 at Foro Italico on May 19, 2017 in Rome, Italy. (May 18, 2017 – Source: Gareth Copley/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain serves during his quarter final match against Dominic Thiem of Austriain The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2017 at Foro Italico on May 19, 2017 in Rome, Italy. (May 18, 2017 – Source: Gareth Copley/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after a point during his quarter-final against Dominic Thiem of Austria during the ATP Tennis Open tournament on May 19, 2017 at the Foro Italico in Rome..Austria’s Dominic Thiem sent Rafael Nadal crashing out of the Rome Masters with a 6-4, 6-3 quarter-final victory, ending the Spaniard’s 17-match winning run. / AFP PHOTO / TIZIANA FABI (May 18, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Rafael Nadal of Spain slips during the men’s quarter-final match against Dominic Thiem of Austria on Day Six of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2017 at Foro Italico on May 19, 2017 in Rome, Italy. (May 18, 2017 – Source: Michael Steele/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain runs to catch a ball as he plays against Dominic Thiem of Austria during their quarter-final tennis match at the ATP Tennis Open tournament on May 19, 2017 at the Foro Italico in Rome..Austria’s Dominic Thiem sent Rafael Nadal crashing out of the Rome Masters with a 6-4, 6-3 quarter-final victory, ending the Spaniard’s 17-match winning run. / AFP PHOTO / TIZIANA FABI (May 18, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Rafael Nadal of Spain leaves the court after he lost his quarter-final against Dominic Thiem of Austria during the ATP Tennis Open tournament on May 19, 2017 at the Foro Italico in Rome..Austria’s Dominic Thiem sent Rafael Nadal crashing out of the Rome Masters with a 6-4, 6-3 quarter-final victory, ending the Spaniard’s 17-match winning run. / AFP PHOTO / TIZIANA FABI (May 18, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Rafael Nadal of Spain leaves the court after he lost his quarter-final against Dominic Thiem of Austria during the ATP Tennis Open tournament on May 19, 2017 at the Foro Italico in Rome..Austria’s Dominic Thiem sent Rafael Nadal crashing out of the Rome Masters with a 6-4, 6-3 quarter-final victory, ending the Spaniard’s 17-match winning run. / AFP PHOTO / TIZIANA FABI (May 18, 2017 – Source: AFP)
The Austrian was dominant in the opening set as he raced into a 5-1 lead. Rafa regained some composure and managed to fight back to 5-4 but he couldn’t prevent Thiem taking the set. The pair served out the opening six games of the second but Rafa found a break and hold in the seventh and eighth to open up a 5-3 lead. He then break Rafa’s service game again to secure a memorable victory.
Source: Eurosport
Rafa is THE favorite to win the French. Having said that, I will reiterate that there are many who want to and are capable of winning at RG. My heart and money are on Rafa.
RAFA ROCKS
I am extremely happy with how Rafa has carried himself these past few months. This is definitely a comeback year for him and I feel he will not only do well just on clay, but he will do well on grass and the hard court season coming up as well. His confidence will assist in guiding him through to many more wins this season and he has a decent shot of ending the year in the top tier if not at #1 again. Vamos Rafa for all his 3 clay wins and to a possible 10th dream trophy at Roland Garros.
🙂