ROME (AP) Rafael Nadal put away Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-0 at the Italian Open on Friday, and ought to be a little nervous.
Hes conceded only six games in six sets at the Foro Italico, but hes reached the semifinals.
Nadal has fallen in the semifinals of his last three tournaments all on his favored clay. And next up is Stefanos Tsitsipas, whom Nadal lost to in Madrid last week.
I know what happened last week, and I (am) going to try to do it better tomorrow, Nadal said. I have to hold the level or increase a little bit more. If that happens, I (am) going to have my chances. The good thing is during the last month my feeling is every week was better than the previous one.
Tsitsipas, 20, is up to No. 7 in the rankings.
Every year, we make (a) prediction with the team which player is going to be at the top 10 at the end of the season, Nadal said. I put Tsitsipas there. … He started even better than what I (expected). He deserves to be where he is now.
Meanwhile, Roger Federer and top-ranked Naomi Osaka withdrew before their quarterfinals because of injuries.
Federer reported a right leg injury ahead of his match against Tsitsipas, while Osaka said her right hand was hurting before she was to play Kiki Bertens.
Also reaching the last four was Diego Schwartzman, who beat Kei Nishikori for the first time in four tries, 6-4, 6-2, to reach his first Masters Series semifinal.
The 24th-ranked Schwartzman will face top-ranked Novak Djokovic or fellow Argentine Juan Martin del Potro.
On the womens side, Karolina Pliskova rallied past former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-2 and will face one of two qualifiers, Kristina Mladenovic or Maria Sakkari, for a spot in the final.
Bertens, who won the Madrid Open last week, will face Marketa Vondrousova or Johanna Konta.
While Osaka won both of her matches on Thursday in straight sets, the 37-year-old Federer had to labor for more than 2 ½ hours to overcome Borna Coric in his second time on court.
Federer said after beating Coric that he slid on a wet line and his leg was hurting a little bit.
Later, Federer added on Instagram: The fan reaction and crowd energy during my matches yesterday remind exactly why I am still competing on the ATP Tour.
