Spaniard's quarter-final victory over Croatian Cilic ensures Djokovic can't overtake him in the world rankings before French open later this month
Spaniard's quarter-final victory over Croatian Cilic ensures Djokovic can't overtake him in the world rankings before French open later this month
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Spaniard Rafael Nadal plays a backhand during yesterday's Rome
Masters quarter-final against Croatian Marin Cilic. Nadal won 6-1,
6-3. PIC/Getty Images
The top seed, looking to bounce back from his defeat to Novak Djokovic in the Madrid final last week, broke the Croatian's serve twice to seize the upper hand in the first set.
The World No 23 gave Nadal a slightly tougher ride in the second set but breaks of serve in the seventh and ninth games were enough to wrap up victory in one hour and 25 minutes and set up a last-four encounter with either 16th seed Richard Gasquet or seventh seed Tomas Berdych.
Nadal is aiming to reach the final of a sixth consecutive tournament, having won two by beating compatriot David Ferrer and losing the other three to in-form Djokovic.
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