Nadal suffers early Barcelona exit
Follow us at @CNNSport and like us on Facebook Nadal is aiming to become the first player in the Open Era to win a single major 10 times when he returns to Roland Garros, but preparations on his favored clay courts have not gone quite as planned. After failing to secure a ninth Monte Carlo Masters title earlier this month -- losing out to eventual winner Novak Djokovic in the semifinals -- he now has to go without a ninth Barcelona Open title after exiting the competition at the earliest hurdle since 2003. Nadal has just the one title to his name since landing his ninth French Open last June -- March's Argentina Open win. Fognini saw off Nadal for the second time this year with a 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) victory on Thursday, having also beaten his compatriot in the Rio Open semifinals. After edging a tight first set, Fognini forced the second into a tie-break, eventually winning out on a fourth match point following a mistimed forehand from his opponent. The win takes Fognini, who had been ...