Rafael Nadal loses to Stefanos Tsitsipas in Madrid as clay slump continues

Rafael Nadal Madrid

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after missing a point against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during the Madrid Open tennis men’s semi-final match in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 11, 2019. Tsitsipas won the match. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

MADRID — For the third straight time this season, Rafael Nadal won’t be fighting for a title on his favorite surface.

Nadal’s slump on clay continued on Saturday at the Madrid Open with a third consecutive semifinal elimination, adding to his worst start to the clay-court swing since 2015.

He lost to ninth-ranked Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, who will try to win his third title of the year in a final against top-ranked Novak Djokovic, who defeated Dominic Thiem 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4) and will have a chance to tie Nadal for the most titles in Master 1000 tournaments with 33.

In the women’s final, Kiki Bertens beat two-time Madrid champion Simona Halep 6-4, 6-4.

Read more...