ATP: Fabio Fognini v Rafael Nadal before Mission Impossible?

Fabio Fognini has an extremely difficult match ahead of him with his quarter-final at the ATP Masters in Rome. Against Rafael Nadal (from 12 o’clock in the LIVETICKER) the Italian, who is in his capital for the first time in the round of the last eight, faces a five-time tournament winner.

I’ve sent him packing things and made him unhappy several times before,” Fognini said about Nadal after entering the quarter-finals on Thursday. In 2015, the 30-year-old was already trailing the Spaniard 2-0 in sets, but came back against the 16-time major champion and prevailed.

“There are few words to describe him on this surface,” said Fognini. “It’ll be important to serve well to get many free points.”

Nadal leads the direct duel against Fognini 10-3 and has won the last five duels. For the Mallorcan, it’s about leading the world rankings in Rome, where he could replace Roger Federer again with a tournament victory.

“It will be a match against a great player with a lot of talent,” Nadal said about his next opponent. “I have to play well to stay in the tournament. I hope I’m ready to play at the right level.”

A little later Novak Djokovic has to pass against Kei Nishikori (from 4 pm in the LIVETICKER) as in the first round of Madrid. Last week’s duel went to the Serbs in two sets, although the result looked clearer than the match had actually gone.

“I’m just trying to use the energy people give me,” said Djokovic after his two-sentence win over Albert Ramos-Vinolas. “In the past I played well in Rome and it feels better with every match.”

In the lower half of the grid Pablo Carreno Busta fights Marin Cilic (from 2 pm in the LIVETICKER), while Alexander Zverev has to deal with David Goffin (from 6 pm in the LIVETICKER).