Nadal bounced out by Ferrero
Rafael Nadal's bid to win a fourth straight Rome Masters title stumbled at the first hurdle when the Spaniard lost 7-5 6-1 to compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero.
It is only the second time in his last 105 games that world number two Nadal has lost on clay including his defeat by Roger Federer in the final of last year's Hamburg Masters. Ferrero, the unseeded 2001 champion, will now meet Stanislas Wawrinka in the third round after the Swiss player defeated Andy Murray. The unseeded Ferrero consistently put number two seed Nadal under pressure in the first set.
A venomous serve helped the Spaniard save a set point in the 10th game but Ferrero got his reward two later, clinching the crucial break with a fine cross-court backhand. Nadal had also been let down by some uncharacteristic unforced errors, with over-hit forehands costing him three set points in the ninth game of the first set.
Ferrero grew in confidence and took the second of two break points in the fourth game of the second set, after Nadal saved the first with a brave drop shot.
Nadal then hit a net volley wide with the court begging when 4-1 down in the second set to confirm the impression he was far from his best, although he did have treatment on a foot blister at the end of that game. Ferrero broke again straight after the restart and then served out the match to record his second win over his compatriot in eight encounters and his first on clay. "I didn't feel good on court," Nadal said. "I couldn't put my legs on the floor with power so every time I played short because I didn't have power in my legs." "The calendar is impossible," he aded. "Last week in Barcelona I said it was going to be impossible for me to play well four weeks in a row. "(Now) I'll try to have some rest at home and go to Hamburg with my best feelings."
Earlier, number three seed Novak Djokovic took full advantage of an error-strewn display from Steve Darcis to book his place in the third round with a 6-4 6-0 win.
Darcis started well and broke the Serb's serve in the third game of the match although Djokovic was quick to react and broke back immediately. The first set continued with serve until the Belgian was presented with a great chance to take the lead at 4-4 but he could not capitalise on the two break points handed to him. It turned to be the turning point in the match as Djokovic went on to take the game - and the opening set soon after.
Darcis never recovered and his confidence deserted him during the second set, Djokovic winning eight consecutive games to stay on course for glory in the Eternal City. Elsewhere, it was a bad day for top 10 seeds David Nalbandian and David Ferrer. Seventh seed Nalbandian crashed out to Nicolas Almagro 6-4 7-5 while Ferrer, seeded five, took the first set against Radek Stepanek but failed to take advantage, the Spaniard's game falling apart in the final two sets to lose 4-6 6-2 6-1. Meanwhile number eight seed James Blake battled to beat local favourite Andreas Seppi 7-6 (5) 3-6 6-1 and Luis Horna of Peru beat Argentina's Jose Acasuso 6-3 7-6 (1). Roger Federer moved into the third round on Tuesday with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Guillermo Canas. The world number one will face Croatia's Ivo Karlovic, who beat Italy's Potito Starace 6-3 6-7 7-6.
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