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SPORTS Saturday 19 May 2018

Nadal and Djokovic to renew rivalry in Italian Open semis

By ANDREW DAMPF Fans were decidedly be-
Associated Press hind Fognini, Italy's top
ROME (AP) — Rafael Nadal player, and Nadal was un-
and Novak Djokovic will re- der pressure when Fognini
new their rivalry in the Ital- won five straight games
ian Open semifinals — and to cancel out a 4-1 deficit
three-time Rome cham- and win the opening set.
pion Maria Sharapova also "He played aggressive, a
reached the last four Fri- great level of tennis, cre-
day. ating a lot of winners and
Nadal, who holds a record taking balls earlier," Nadal
seven titles at the Foro Ital- said. "I felt the pressure a lit-
ico, overcame a poor first tle bit and played a couple
set and a partisan crowd to of bad games."
beat Fabio Fognini 4-6, 6-1, But Fognini couldn't keep
6-2. Then, four-time Rome up with Nadal's consistency
winner Djokovic rallied past and heavy topspin on the
Kei Nishikori 2-6, 6-1, 6-3. red clay court and even-
Nadal and Djokovic have tually was physically worn
played each other 50 times down.
but their last meeting came "I tried to play more with my
more than a year ago, forehand and when I play
when Nadal won in the aggressive with my fore-
Madrid Open semifinals. Spain's Rafael Nadal serves the ball to Italy's Fabio Fognini during a quarter final match at the Ital- hand the backhand be-
"I haven't played too ian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Friday, May 18, 2018. comes better," said Nadal,
many matches the last six Associated Press who sat out earlier this sea-
months," said Djokovic, son with right knee and hip
who is returning from a per- Nadal can replace Roger Slam title. der Zverev or ninth-seeded injuries. "It's important to be
sistent right elbow injury. Federer at No. 1 if he lifts In the other half of the David Goffin. able to change the tactics
"I just need a good night the Rome trophy for the first draw, Australian Open fi- Sharapova required more of the match."
sleep and I'm going to give time since 2013. Federer is nalist Marin Cilic beat 10th- than three hours to elimi- Fognini had tape applied
it everything I got." sitting out the clay season seeded Pablo Carreno Bus- nate last year's French under his left knee while
Djokovic leads Nadal 26-24 to prepare for Wimbledon, ta 6-3, 6-3. The Croatian's Open winner, Jelena Os- trailing 3-2 in the third set
overall, but Nadal holds a where he will bid for a re- next opponent will be de- tapenko, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-5; due to a physical problem
15-7 advantage on clay. cord-extending 21st Grand fending champion Alexan- and defending champion that has bothered him for
Elina Svitolina defeated weeks.
Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-4 "The first set lasted more
for her sixth straight victory than an hour," Fognini said.
over the former No. 1 play- "It's him that causes the
er. problem."
Svitolina will next face 26th- While the result meant it
ranked Anett Kontaveit of was now 42 years since an
Estonia, who beat Austra- Italian man last won the
lian Open champion Caro- tournament — Adriano
line Wozniacki 6-3, 6-1. Panatta in 1976 — Fognini
Sharapova's semifinal op- was still applauded as he
ponent will be either top- walked off of the court.
ranked Simona Halep or Nadal joined in the ap-
Caroline Garcia. plause for Fognini.q
Djokovic has now won 12
straight matches over Ni-
shikori and the Japanese
player didn't help his cause
when he landed an easy
overhead into the net early
in the third set. Still, it re-
mained tight with long ral-
lies until the end.
"It was a fantastic match,"
Spain's Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Italy's Fabio Fognini during a quarter final match at the Ital-
ian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Friday, May 18, 2018. Djokovic said. "We went toe
to toe until the last point."