Fognini finds way to topple Nadal

TENNIS: Fabio Fognini ended Rafael Nadal’s long winning streak at the Monte Carlo Masters, stunning the defending champion 6-4, 6-2 to reach the final for the first time and hand Nadal his first defeat there since the 2015 semi-finals.

The 13th-seeded Italian had beaten Nadal twice before on clay and also once at the US Open in five sets, but this was arguably more impressive.

‘I played one of my worst matches in 14 years,’ said Nadal afterwards. ‘We can talk about technical and tactical things, but on this kind of day things are just not there. It’s difficult to find an explanation.’

Fognini plays Serb Dusan Lajovic in today’s final.