Nadal struggles with foot injury in Italian Open loss to Shapovalov

ROME –

Rafael Nadal is suffering from an injury with just 10 days left before the French Open.

Nadal was suffering from a foot problem at the end, after a loss of 1-6-7-5, 6-2 to Denis Shapovalov during the Italian Open on Thursday.

Nadal, 35 years old, walked over and leaned against his towel box. He then grimaced in apparent pain. He also limped between the points.

Nadal missed a lot of last year because of a left foot injury.

“I hurt my foot again with a lot of pain,” Nadal said. “I’m a player living with an injury. It’s not something new. Unfortunately, it’s a fact of life. It is hard day after day.

Nadal was worried about the French Open, which began on May 22.

“What can happen in the next couple of days, I don’t know,” saidNadal has won Roland Garros an unprecedented 13 times. “What can happen in one week, I really don’t know now.”

Nadal was unable to return to the tour after suffering a stress fracture in his ribs. This occurred six weeks after an incredible start to the year, which included an unprecedented 21st Grand Slam title at The Australian Open.

“It’s difficult for me to accept the situation sometimes,” Nadal said. “Can be frustrating that a lot of days I can’t practice the proper way.”

Carlos Alcaraz (19 years old) defeated Nadal in last week’s quarterfinals of the Madrid Open.

Nadal double faltered twice, missed a backhand long to allow Shapovalov to break his serve and win the second set. After winning 14 straight points, Shapovalov took full control of the match and won the third set.

“Definitely tough to see him in pain there at the end,” saidShapovalov will play Casper Ruud, in the quarterfinals. “I never want to see that, especially with a great legend like Rafa. … He brings so many things to our sport. Hopefully he’s fit and ready to go for the French.”

Nadal, who has won it 10 times, holds the record for winning the Italian Open. said his foot started hurting midway through the second set, adding: “Then (it) wasn’t playable for me.”

In a 6-2, 6-1 win over Stan Wawrinka earlier in the day, Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked player, was untroubled. He was only playing his second tournament since undergoing two operations on his left foot.

Djokovic, five-time Rome champion, will next face Felix Auger-Aliassime. Felix won the match against Marcos Giron, an American qualifier, with a 6-3 and 6-2 victory. This will be Djokovic’s first encounter with Auger-Aliassime.

The women’s tournament saw Iga Swiatek, the top-ranked player, be tested. She defeated former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka reached the quarterfinals, extending her winning streak of 25 matches.

Azarenka led 3-0 before Swiatek won five consecutive games in a difficult first set that lasted 1h, 20 minutes.

“My first serve wasn’t working properly,” Swiatek said “But I’m happy that I could kind of win ugly in the first set, then improve in the second. It gives me confidence that even when my game is not 100% good, I can still win matches.”

Swiatek will be trying to win her fifth consecutive tournament and defend her title from Rome.

Serena Williams is the last player who won more consecutive matches. Her streak of 27 wins in a row was recorded between 2014 and 2015.

“(The streak) doesn’t really matter for me because every match is different,” Swiatek said. “In many matches, I struggled this season, even though I won them. It’s possible for anything to happen. Every match is a different story.”

Swiatek’s win makes her the favorite to win a second French Open in 2019, when the second Grand Slam of the year begins in just 10 days. Swiatek was ranked No. 54 when she won Roland Garros 2020. 54, making her the lowest-ranked woman in Open era to win Paris major.

Swiatek was unable to hold serve at the Foro Italico’s red clay court. Azarenka played 98 to 47 points.

Azarenka was upset when a spectator entered the front row in the VIP section, just behind her, as she was facing a breakpoint late in the first set. After Swiatek won the set, Azarenka double-failed to give Swiatek the control. She slammed her racket in frustration to the chair umpire.

Swiatek will next play 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu who defeated Croatian qualifier Petra Martic by 6-4,6-4.

Jannik Sinner (20 years old) was the star of the day. He beat Filip Krajinovic 7-6 (6 to reach the quarterfinals at his home tournament for the first-time.

Next, Sinner will face Stefanos Tisipas. He defeated Karen Khachanov 4-6 6-0 6-3 to claim a tour-leading 29th victory of the year.

Alexander Zverev (2017 Rome champion) beat Alex De Minaur, 6-3, 7-6 (5).

Alexander Zverev, Zverev’s father, is returning to the circuit as his coach and mentor after a lengthy absence. The family has kept the matter personal.

Mischa, Zverev’s older brother, was his coach when he won the ATP Finals in Novemeber.

“I was missing a coach for six months,” Zverev said. “That’s what was missing.”