ROME (AP) — Rafael Nadal has lost on clay for the fifth time this season.
The Spaniard was beaten 7-6 (7), 6-2 by eighth-seeded Stan Wawrinka in the Italian Open quarterfinals Friday.
Nadal wasted four set points in the tiebreaker, surrendering a 6-2 lead.
The last time Nadal was beaten so many times on his favorite surface was 12 years ago, and with the French Open nine days away, his status as the favorite is in question.
Nadal has won the clay-court Grand Slam nine of the past 10 years. But he’s struggling to get back to his best after a wrist injury and an appendectomy last season.
On Monday, Nadal dropped out of the top five in the ATP rankings for the first time in 10 years — falling to No. 7.
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