15 May,2021 07:00 AM IST | Rome | AFP
Rafael Nadal celebrates his win over Alexander Zverev yesterday. Pic/AFP
Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal dispatched his Madrid Masters slayer Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4 to reach the Italian Open semi-finals on Friday.
Second-seed Nadal lost to Zverev in the Madrid last-eight last week, but ended his three-match losing streak against the German in the Foro Italico. "It was an important victory for me against a great player," said the Spaniard.
Nadal, 34, shook off his marathon 3hr 30min quarter-final battle past Denis Shapovalov on Thursday where he needed to save two match points.
Former Rome champion Karolina Pliskova rallied from a set down to advance to the semi-finals on Friday. Pliskova, winner in 2019 and runner-up last year, battled past Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko 7-5, 7-6 (7/1). The ninth-seeded Czech will meet Croatia's Petra Martic for a place in the final.
World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty retired injured in the quarter-finals on Friday, just two weeks before Roland Garros.
Top seed Barty, the 2019 French Open champion, was leading 6-4, 2-1 when she pulled up to receive treatment during her match against American Coco Gauff. The Australian suffered a right arm injury, the WTA said. "The pain was becoming too severe," said Barty.
"It was really important that I listen to my body knowing we have a Grand Slam in two weeks' time." Barty added: "It's something I've had to manage over my
career."
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