Nadal stumbles on clay, loses semis to unseeded Cuevas

RIO DE JANEIRO: Rafa Nadal’s below-par season has continued with the former world number one dumped from the Rio Open semi-finals with a 6-7(6), 7-6(3), 6-4 defeat by unseeded Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas on Saturday.

The top seed pipped Cuevas in a first set tie-break and denied his opponent two set points in the second but succumbed to his first defeat against the world number 45.

“I lost an opportunity, that’s it,” Spaniard Nadal said after being denied his 100th ATP final by claycourt specialist Cuevas who fired 48 winners to clinch the contest.

“I fought until the end. I have to accept it and keep working to try to change the dynamic. That’s what’s happening today and I have to work hard to change it,” added the 14-times grand slam champion.

Cuevas will meet another unseeded player in Guido Pella in the claycourt final after the Argentine’s 6-1, 6-4 humbling of fifth seed Dominic Thiem, who beat Nadal in the semi-finals in Buenos Aires last week.

QUERREY CUTS SHORT DEL POTRO’S RUN

DELRAY BEACH (US): Juan Martin del Potro's return to tennis fell short of a fairytale ending on Saturday as the Argentine lost to American Sam Querrey 7-5 7-5 in the semi-final of the Delray Beach Open. The former U.S. Open champion Del Potro made his comeback at Delray Beach after an 11-month layoff following two surgeries on his left wrist.

Querrey will face Rajeev Ram in the final.

DJOKOVIC SET FOR ATP RETURN IN DUBAI

DUBAI: After spending time with family in the wake of his sixth Australian Open title, Novak Djokovic is primed for a return to the courts at the Dubai Tennis Championships starting on Monday.

But Roger Federer, winner of the last two editions, will not be seen in action in this year’s edition.