Rafael Nadal to face Reilly Opelka in Men's Singles semi-finals of Italian Open today

In Tennis, Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal will face American Reilly Opelka in the Men's Singles semi-finals of the Italian Open today. Second seed Nadal of Spain defeated sixth seed Alexander Zverev of Germany in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. This match was of particular significance for Nadal, as he was defeated by the German in straight sets, last week in Madrid. Rafael Nadal is chasing his 10th title in Rome this year, and is just two more wins away from entering the double figures. He is also two wins away from equalling Novak Djokovic's record of 36 ATP Masters 1,000 titles.        

Opelka reached the semi-finals of an ATP Masters 1,000 title for the first time by beating Argentina's Federico Delbonis.

World number one Serbian Novak Djokovic will resume his quarter-final match against Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas today after play was suspended yesterday because of rain.

Tsitsipas was leading 6-4 2-1 before play was halted for a second time, having led 4-3 before a three-hour 30-minute wait for conditions to



improve.

Russian seventh seed Andrey Rublev will meet Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the last-eight match today.

In the Women's Singles, Former Rome champion Karolina Pliskova will face Croatia's Petra Martic for a place in the finals. The ninth-seeded Czech, Pliskova entered into the semi-finals after defeating former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 in the last-eight match yesterday. Martic, ranked 25th, advanced into her first semi-final of the season, defeating  American Jessica Pegula, 7-5, 6-4.

World number one Ashleigh Barty retired injured in the quarter-finals yesterday. Top seed Barty, the 2019 French Open champion, was leading 6-4, 2-1 when she pulled up to receive treatment during her match against American Coco Gauff. The Australian suffered a right arm injury. Ashleigh's retirement allowed 17-year-old Gauff to reach her first clay-court semi-final.

Fifth-seed Elina Svitolina will take on the reigning French Open champion, Poland's Iga Swiatek in the quarter-final match today.