Rafael Nadal defeat Fabio Fognini to reach semifinals of Italian Open

Rafael Nadal continued his clay domination today, rallying from a set down to reach the Italian Open semi-finals with a 4-6 6-1 6-2 victory over Fabio Fognini.The world number two needs to lift an eighth career title at the Foro Italico on Sunday to return to the top of the ATP rankings after losing that position to Roger Federer last week.

He will next face either fellow former world number one Novak Djokovic or Japan's Kei Nishikori.The Croatian fourth seed Marin Cilic beat Pablo Carreno



Busta 6-3 6-3 to reach the Rome semi-finals for the first time in his career.

Nadal and Cilic were joined as semi-finalist by women's fourth seed Elina Svitolina, who defeated former world number one Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-4 6-4.

Meanwhile, India's Rohan Bopanna and his French partner Edouard Roger-Vasselin crashed out of the touurnament after losing their second round match to Pablo Cuevas and Marcel Granollers 6-7, 4-6 .