At the Italian Open, a stunning upset unfolded when Hubert Hurkacz delivered a masterful performance to defeat Rafael Nadal in the second round on Saturday. Hurkacz, seeded seventh, secured a commanding 6-1, 6-3 victory, marking an end to Nadal's prestigious tenure at the Rome ATP Masters 1000.
Nadal, a record 10-time champion at this venue, concluded his remarkable journey in Rome with an impressive 70-9 win-loss record. The Spanish tennis legend showed resilience in his opening match, overcoming Zizou Bergs in a challenging three-setter. Despite starting strong against Hurkacz, Nadal found himself unable to halt the momentum of the formidable Polish player. Throughout the match, Hurkacz demonstrated exceptional skill, successfully defending all seven break points against him, showcasing why he is considered one of the tough competitors on the tour.
In contrast to the men’s singles upset, the women’s singles tournament saw world number one Iga Swiatek smoothly advance to the fourth round. Swiatek, coming off her recent victory in Madrid, overcame a challenging match against Yulia Putintseva, winning 6-3, 6-4. The Polish star found herself trailing 4-1 in the second set but rallied to secure her eighth consecutive win.
Swiatek, a two-time champion in Rome, is on a quest to capture her third title at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia. Her aim is to achieve a rare feat, potentially becoming only the third player in history to win both the Rome and Madrid titles in the same season.