Kyrgios takes it right up to Nadal on clay

Nick Kyrgios has lost his Italian Open third-round clash with seven-time champion Rafael Nadal 6-7 6-2 6-4 in an absorbing three-hour contest in Rome. In a pulsating 12th game, Djokovic upped the pressure and was rewarded on his fourth set point. “Who knows when this match would finish?” Nevertheless, the fact that he will be seeded No 5 at Roland Garros means that he could meet Djokovic in the quarter-finals again, as he did when losing to the Serb in Paris a year ago.

Djokovic was not ready to give up the set, however, and with Nadal serving to level at 5-4, the Serb quashed five set points to break back, and Centre Court erupted.

It was a different world in 2004, the last time someone other than Nadal or Djokovic won in Rome.

“Winning against Nadal on clay doesn’t happen often, doesn’t happen every day, so it is one of the ultimate challenges if not the ultimate challenge we have in sports”, Djokovic said. He went 7-5 in both sets against Stephane Robert, and he was bageled against Thomaz Bellucci in the Round of 16 before recovering in the final two sets.

“I played cautious, and I only decided after the warmup that I was actually going to play”. “Overall, I am playing well”. Right now I still have it, I feel so well.’ Ferrer has been a top player from a decade, he reached his best ranking in 2013 being at the third place in the rankings: ‘Luckily I never got injured and so I had a great continuity.

Djokovic will play the victor of Friday’s last quarter-final, between Kei Nishikori of Japan and Austrian Dominic Thiem, ahead of a possible second final against Britain’s Andy Murray in successive weeks.

Murray remains on course for a successful start to the post-Amelie Mauresmo era after beating Goffin 6-1 7-5 in a repeat of their meeting in last year’s Davis Cup final. “I deserve it because I have worked hard for it”.

He will be heavy favourite to reach Sunday’s final against French lucky loser Lucas Pouille, one of the tour’s most rapidly improving young talents, but lacking in experience against players of Murray’s calibre. Organizers said Monaco had a problem with his left side. The Serbian showed the strength of character befitting a world number one in pursuit of a 30th ATP 1000 title, fighting back to win 0-6 6-3 6-2.

Also, Wimbledon finalist Garbine Muguruza beat Timea Bacsinszky 7-5, 6-2 and will meet Madison Keys, who eliminated Barbora Strycova 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

After failing to win more than eight points in the opening set, Djokovic earned his first game of the match to open up the second set.

Bellucci has won the first set of each in his last two clay court encounters with Djokovic and in this context backing the Serb to win from a set down appeals as a 17/2 shot.