Rafael Nadal sets up Novak Djokovic semi-last in Rome, Alexander Zverev walks on
Rafa Nadal encouraged from a set down before facilitating past Fabio Fognini 4 6-1 6-2 in the Italian Open quarter-finals on Friday to set up a mouth-watering conflict against long-term foe Novak Djokovic for a place in Sunday's last. Djokovic plotted a comparable way to the Spanish claycourt lord when the Serb lost the principal set against Japan's Kei Nishikori before recouping to win 2 6-1 6-3 and seal an open-period record 51st profession meeting against Nadal. Nadal began emphatically and hustled into a 4-1 lead however Fognini declined to surrender before a fanatic Rome swarm, mauling a split back before fleeing with the set. The Italian's happiness was brief, be that as it may, as Nadal regrouped, charging around the court and putting his adversary under constant weight as he took the second set to level things up. Fognini was then hampered by damage to one side knee as Nadal kept on terminating on all chambers and the Spaniard appropriately wrapped up the match ...