Rafael Nadal
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Nadal’s exit gives Federer chance of a Roman triumph
Published by admin | Filed under News
The Foro Italico, home of the Rome Masters, looks very different this year. The main stadium is being rebuilt and temporary seating has been erected around what was the second court, concealing most of the huge statues that were central to Benito Mussolini’s vision of the park.
Rafael Nadal’s rivals have been relieved to see that the new look has spread to the tournament draw. The world No 2, winner for the last three years, went out on Wednesday, which means that this will be the first clay-court Grand Slam or Masters Series event that Nadal has started and not reached the final of since Hamburg in 2003.
Roger Federer will be hoping to take advantage, the Swiss having lost to his great rival in seven of their eight meetings on clay. Federer has looked in good form in his two matches here and moved into the quarter-finals yesterday with a victory over Ivo Karlovic that was more comfortable than the 7-6, 6-3 scoreline might suggest.