Rafael Nadal suffered a shock defeat towards Denis Shapovalov on the Italian Open spherical of 16 and followers had been fast to recommend that the Spaniard’s supreme reign on the clay court docket might have come to an finish.
Earlier on Thursday, Rafael Nadal was eradicated from the Italian Open final 16 by Denis Shapovalov. The 21-time Grand Slam winner initially dominated the primary set earlier than succumbing 1-6 7-5 6-2 to the Canadian. It was the earliest Nadal exited the event since 2008.
Nadal appeared to wrestle with a foot harm in the course of the recreation and by no means actually appeared to get well from it in the course of the match. The harm will even be a reason for concern for the Spaniard forward of the French Open.
Alternatively, the win for Shapovalov was one other daring assertion made by the 23-year-old. He’ll now face Casper Ruud within the quarterfinals of the Italian Open. However followers on social media had been fast to react to Nadal’s exit from the event. Some even advised that the Spaniard’s reign on the clay court docket might have come to an finish.
Followers react as Rafael Nadal exits Italian Open in Spherical of 16
On Twitter, one stated, “I feel we might have simply witnessed Nadal’s finish of dominance on the clay court docket. He was crushed by Alcaraz in Madrid and now Shapovalov in Italy” whereas one other added, “Wow. Nadal clearly appeared like he couldn’t compete within the remaining phases towards Shapovalov. Age is actually catching up, no?” A 3rd commented, “Unhappy to see Nadal get beat so simply on clay. Extra worrying is the harm he picked up.”
