Madrid Open

Rafael Nadal booked a semi-final clash with Novak Djokovic at the Madrid Open after a 7-6 (7/3) 6-2 win over David Goffin.

Djokovic’s opponent, Kei Nishikori, withdrew with a wrist injury.

Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares lost their doubles quarterfinal to the French pair of Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Nicolas Mahut, who triumphed 6-4, 3-6, 10-7.

The leading players have increasingly shown a lack of commitment to the historic competition and have been frustrated by a perceived reluctance on the ITF’s part to change the format.

Pique’s idea is to have an event played at one venue over 10 days, which would impact less on the busy schedules of the leading players than the Davis Cup, which is held over four weekends throughout the year.

Djokovic has long voiced support for such a structure in Davis Cup, and he said: “To see one of the football greats coming to the tennis world and trying to support it personally, but also in some structural business way, can only bring positives to our sport.”

Nadal is hoping the proposals will encourage the ITF to push through changes to the Davis Cup.

A change in format for singles matches from best-of-five sets to best-ofthree is expected to be approved at the ITF’s AGM on August 4 but that is the only imminent alteration.

ITF president David Haggerty is keen to move the final to a neutral venue but that is not popular among the players.