If Roger Federer's appearance in Rome is up in the air, Rafael Nadal's is confirmed. It was the same Spanish player to share his excitement for heading back to Foro Italico where he triumphed eight times, including the last one in 2018 over Alexander Zverev in a three-set final. "This is my home, it's a very important tournament for me and Rome is a great event where I had a lot of success last year. I won so many times and for me, it's always a very nice court with a big atmosphere. I am looking forward to it, I hope to have a good run once again", said Nadal. Another player to watch on clay is Daniil Medvedev, who reached the Monte Carlo semifinals and Barcelona final. The Russian recalled his meeting with Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2018 Miami: "That match was tense and close. I remember I was not happy with some of Stefanos's actions. I do not remember I did something wrong personally, but after the match, he was not pleased with me. I had to give an answer. That happens to everyone. Even when you work in an office, there is always a person you hate. Or just a person who you do not want to speak to. The Internet has changed a lot in terms of conflicts. As soon as someone speaks too much during a match, he gets immediately noticed. For example, the controversy between Nick Kyrgios and Stan Wawrinka... In the past, no one remembered it, but now everyone is aware of it and everyone speaks of it."<doc-sep>Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka all played and won twice at the Italian Open on Thursday in an extended schedule following Wednesday's postponement due to rain. Federer beat Joao Sousa 6-4, 6-3 in his first appearance at the Rome Masters since 2016, before beating Borna Coric in three sets. Djokovic saw off Denis Shapovalov and Philipp Kohlschreiber, Nadal gave up just one game apiece against Jeremy Chardy and Nikoloz Basilashvili, and Osaka downed Dominika Cibulkova and Mihaela Buzarnescu. Meanwhile, Nick Kyrgios walked out of his match with Casper Ruud after throwing a chair onto the court. There were upsets in both the men's and women's tournaments as No. 7 seed Sloane Stephens and Venus Williams both fell to Johanna Konta, while Simona Halep, Marin Cilic and Dominic Thiem were also knocked out. Selected Monday Results Men's Singles Video Play Button Videos you might like (1) Novak Djokovic bt. Denis Shapovalov: 6-1, 6-3 Jan-Lennard Struff bt. (9) Marin Cilic: 6-2, 6-3 (3) Roger Federer bt. Joao Sousa: 6-4, 6-3 Fernando Verdasco bt. (5) Dominic Thiem: 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 (2) Rafael Nadal bt. Jeremy Chardy: 6-0, 6-1 Casper Ruud bt. Nick Kyrgios: 6-3, 6-7 (5), 2-1 (Ret.) (1) Novak Djokovic* bt. Philipp Kohlschreiber: 6-3, 6-0 (3) Roger Federer* bt. Borna Coric: 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7) (2) Rafael Nadal* bt. Nikoloz Basilashvili: 6-1, 6-0 Women's Singles (1) Naomi Osaka bt. Dominika Cibulkova: 6-3, 6-3 (2) Petra Kvitova bt. Yulia Putintseva: 6-0, 6-1 (6) Kiki Bertens bt. Amanda Anisimova: 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 Johanna Konta bt. (7) Sloane Stephens: 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-1 Marketa Vondrousova bt. (3) Simona Halep: 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 Garbine Muguruza bt. Danielle Collins: 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 Kristina Mladenovic bt. Belinda Bencic: 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 Johanna Konta* bt. Venus Williams: 6-2, 6-4 Kristina Mladenovic* bt. (8) Ash Barty: 6-2, 6-3 (1) Naomi Osaka* bt. Mihaela Buzarnescu: 6-3, 6-3 *Second Match Full results and schedule can be found via the Pro Tennis Live app. Thursday Recap The action started earlier than usual in the Italian capital as organisers looked to make up time following a complete washout on Wednesday. First on court was world No. 1 Osaka, who will be looking to win a third Grand Slam in succession at the French Open, which starts later this month. She dispatched Cibulkova in one hour, 42 minutes to advance to the last 16. The Japanese star lost an early break, but she came roaring back with some trademark big hitting. She saved seven of eight break points conceded in the match, while taking four of the 15 she earned, and hit 44 winners and 12 aces. Cibulkova simply could not live with Osaka, and the top seed eventually finished her opponent off in typical style: Federer was similarly efficient in his match against Sousa. The Portuguese made Federer work hard for the victory, but the 20-time Grand Slam champion had more than enough quality to respond. He took the opening set with a hold to love in 41 minutes, and as so often with Federer, it was his serve that saw him through. The Swiss legend saved all seven of the break points Sousa earned, defending with some quite staggering play when put under pressure by his opponent: And he won 77 percent of points behind his first serve to eventually grind Sousa into submission. The 37-year-old was caught cold in the opening set of his second match, but he quickly responded to edge out Coric in the second and third sets. Nadal's performance was brutal as he blew Chardy away in a little over an hour. A quite ludicrous backhand passing winner from the Spaniard to seal the opening set 6-0 summed things up as Chardy simply could not get close to the eight-time winner and defending champion. The Frenchman saved himself the embarrassment of a double bagel by holding once in the second set, but he understandably could not get off the court quick enough after Nadal sealed victory. Nadal had a similarly straightforward time against Basilashvili. The Spaniard was recently described as "salty" by Kyrgios on the No Challenges Remaining podcast of tennis writer Ben Rothenberg (h/t the Australian Associated Press, for the Guardian). As Rothenberg observed, the Australian continued to make waves on Thursday: Meanwhile, Djokovic is going for his third tournament win of the year after triumphs at the Australian Open and the Madrid Open, and he began his campaign in Rome in emphatic fashion. The top seed was fast out of the blocks, earning two breaks in the first set to immediately get on the front foot and leave Shapovalov with a mountain to climb. Serving at a remarkable 80 percent, the Serb won 28 points from 32 behind his first serve and did not concede a single break point. Unable to produce a similar level of play with the ball in hand, the 20-year-old Shapovalov simply could not compete. He served at 52 percent during the match and Djokovic took advantage as he completed his first victory of the tournament in 66 minutes.<doc-sep>Rafael Nadal was satisfied with his straight-set win over Fernando Verdasco. In his post-match press conference, the Spaniard said: "The beginning of the match has been good. But he was playing great, being honest. I was not playing bad at the beginning at all. But he was playing unbelievable. No mistakes, a lot of winners, taking the ball early. Was a very difficult first set. Was one of the first sets that I am more happy with. I think I had a good feeling during the whole match. Then after winning that first set, in the second I was able to -- of course, he slows down a little bit, but I was able to play a little bit more aggressive with the forehand. I did a lot of things well this afternoon. I am very happy to be in semifinals again. Is a good victory." Nadal also commented on Roger Federer and Naomi Osaka withdrawing from the event after playing two matches on Thursday: "That's how it works sometimes, no? That can happen in outdoor conditions. That's part of the game. I am very sorry for Osaka, especially sorry for Roger. Will be great to have the chance to play against him here in that semifinals. But I going to have another very tough opponent in front like Tsitsipas. The two matches on the same day, you have a risk. When that happens, of course, there is more risk than with one match."<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. The Spaniard, who had shared the record of 33 Masters titles with the Serbian world number one, warmed up for the defence of his Roland Garros crown by securing his ninth Rome title. Nadal got off to a flying start by whitewashing Djokovic in the opening set. It was the first time there has been a 6-0 set during a meeting between the two rivals. Djokovic took the second by breaking Nadal's serve for the first time while leading 5-4, but the second seed responded in style by storming through the decisive set. When Nadal's previous three claycourt tournaments had ended in semi-final defeats, it no doubt gave his rivals hope that his long reign at Roland Garros could be coming to an end this year.<doc-sep>
Rafael Nadal put away Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-0 at the Italian Open on Friday, and ought to be a little nervous. He's conceded only six games in six sets at the Foro Italico, but he's reached the semifinals. Nadal has fallen in the semifinals of his last three tournaments — all on his favored clay. And next up is Stefanos Tsitsipas, whom Nadal lost to in Madrid last week. Meanwhile, Roger Federer and top-ranked Naomi Osaka withdrew before their quarterfinals because of injuries. Federer reported a right leg injury ahead of his match against Tsitsipas, while Osaka said her right hand was hurting before she was to play Kiki Bertens. Also reaching the last four was Diego Schwartzman, who beat Kei Nishikori for the first time in four tries, 6-4, 6-2, to reach his first Masters Series semifinal. The 24th-ranked Schwartzman will face top-ranked Novak Djokovic or fellow Argentine Juan Martin del Potro. While Osaka won both of her matches on Thursday in straight sets, the 37-year-old Federer had to labor for more than 2 ½ hours to overcome Borna Coric in his second time on court. Federer said after beating Coric that he slid on a wet line and his leg "was hurting a little bit." "I am disappointed that I will not be able to compete today. I am not 100 percent physically and, after consultation with my team, it was determined that I not play," Federer said. "Rome has always been one of my favorite cities to visit and I hope to be back next year." Later, Federer added on Instagram: "The fan reaction and crowd energy during my matches yesterday remind exactly why I am still competing on the ATP Tour." It's only the fourth time in Federer's career he has had a walkover loss, the ATP Tour said, adding the 20-time Grand Slam champion has never retired in 1,465 matches. Osaka couldn't immediately say how serious was her injury, or if it will affect her status for Roland Garros, which starts in nine days. She was yet to see a doctor but when she held her hand up for reporters it was clearly swollen. "I woke up this morning and couldn't really move my thumb," Osaka said. "I tried to practice and grip my racket but I couldn't, and I kept feeling this pain when I tried to move my hand in different directions." Osaka's win on Thursday guaranteed she will remain No. 1 going into the French Open. "I didn't feel anything yesterday. That's why I'm kind of confused right now because I literally woke up in the morning and couldn't move my thumb," Osaka said. "So I was like, 'Maybe I slept on it and maybe it will go away.' But it didn't." Bertens, who won the Madrid Open last week, will face Marketa Vondrousova or Johanna Konta for a spot in the final. The quarterfinals in the other half of the draw feature former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka against Karolina Pliskova, and Kristina Mladenovic against Maria Sakkari in a matchup of two qualifiers. Osaka also withdrew before a semifinal in Stuttgart, Germany, last month due to an abdominal injury. And she retired from her previous meeting with Bertens at last year's WTA Finals with a leg injury. "I feel like the ab thing could have been helped, but this one I don't think I could have helped it because I don't know what caused it," Osaka said. "I don't know why I have it."