Rafael Nadal reflected on one of the worst clay-court performances of his career after crashing to a shock defeat to Fabio Fognini in the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters.
Five weeks before the French Open, the 11-times Monte Carlo champion was beaten 6-4, 6-2 by the Italian and gave a blunt assessment of his performance after Fognini wrapped up victory in one hour and 36 minutes. Nadal said: “I probably played one of the worst matches on clay in 14 years.
“When that happens, you have to lose. And today I deserved to lose because I played against a player who was better than me today.”
Fognini’s win was all the more remarkable given he entered the tournament in poor form and had trailed his first round opponent Andrey Rublev 6-4, 4-1 before rallying for victory.
Nadal’s loss to the flamboyant Italian ended a run of 25 consecutive sets won on his favourite surface, as Fognini set up a title decider against Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic.
Fognini said: “If you told me at the beginning of the week I will see you on Sunday, I would have laughed in your face.
“Sometimes I won a few matches [against him] – one crazy one at the US Open and two times on clay. So I knew I had nothing to lose, because of course, especially when you with him on clay, it’s always really tough.”
In windy conditions at the Monte Carlo Country Club, Nadal was overwhelmed by Fognini, who entered centre court with all guns blazing. Fognini’s unpredictability, added to that of the weather conditions, were eventually too much for the Spanish world No 2, who lost 11 of 14 games after going 3-1 up in the first set.
He finally bowed out on the fourth match point, having saved three of these while 5-0 down in the second set and – having fended off the prospect of a rare bagel – Nadal recovered to 5-2, but his opponent closed out at the next serving opportunity.
It was Fognini’s fourth career win against Nadal in 15 encounters, and the world No 18’s third on clay.
Earlier, Lajovic reached his first ATP final with a victory over Daniil Medvedev. Lajovic trailed the Russian 3-0 and 5-1 in the opening set before going through the gears. Medvedev could not hold the pace and Lajovic quickly moved 4-0 up in the second set against a frustrated opponent, who bowed out on the second match point.
“It was an incredible match today,” said Lajovic, the world No 48 and lowest-ranked player to reach the final since Hicham Arazi in 2001. I had the worst nightmare, falling down 5-1. But I won 10 games in a row, so I was able to find my rhythm and my game.
“In windy conditions like today, it was impossible to play real tennis and in the end I was able to hit my forehands better than him. I’m still unaware of my achievement in Monte Carlo.”
Britain’s Jamie Murray and Brazil’s Bruno Soares went out 7-6 (4), 6-4 to the Dutchmen Robin Haase and Wesley Koolhof in the doubles semi-finals.