Italy's Fabio Fognini beat
Spanish legend Rafa Nadal to qualify for the quarter-finals in
Barcelona Thursday.
The 27-year-old Ligurian won 6-4 7-6 (6) in just over two
hours.
It was the second time in six meetings that 13th seed
Fognini had got the better of the world number four and second
seed, who has won 14 grand slam titles.
Fognini, who beat Nadal on clay in the semi-finals in Rio
de Janeiro in February, will play unseeded Spaniard Pablo
Andujar in Friday's quarter-finals.
Andujar upset compatriot and fifth seed Feliciano Lopez 6-3
6-4 earlier on Thursday.
Nadal, whose 2014 season was wrecked by illness and injury,
is looking to rediscover his dominance on the red dust before he
makes a bid for a record-extending 10th French Open crown
starting at the end of next month.
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