Nadal stunned by Ferrero in Rome loss

Updated: May 8, 2008, 8:39 AM EST 33 comments

Rafael Nadal lost on clay for just the second time in 105 matches. (Alessandra Tarantino / Associated Press)

The second-ranked Spaniard lost on clay for only the second time in 105 matches, falling to countryman Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 6-1 in the second round of the Rome Masters.

Nadal's last loss on clay came against Roger Federer in May 2007. Before that, he had won a record 81 consecutive matches on clay, a streak that began in 2005.

He also has a large blister on the bottom of his right foot and only four days to recover for next week's Hamburg Masters.

"Two Masters Series without playing best conditions on clay is going to kill me," Nadal said. "The calendar is impossible."

Nadal had never lost at the Foro Italico, winning the Rome tournament each of the previous three years. The 23rd-ranked Ferrero took the Rome title 2001, two years before he was the French Open champion.

The Rome Masters is an important clay-court warmup for Roland Garros, which begins May 25 with Nadal the three-time defending champion.

"It's one week that he lost, and he will try again to play his level in Hamburg," Ferrero said. "He has a lot of time to prepare for Roland Garros."

Nadal has spoken to ATP president Etienne de Villiers about the crowded schedule, to no avail.

"I'm just going home to rest and prepare for Hamburg," he said.

Nadal called for a trainer late in the second set to treat the blister, which began bothering him Sunday when he won the Barcelona Open. The week before, Nadal won the Monte Carlo Masters.

"Today when I woke up, I said it was impossible to play," Nadal said. "I spoke to the doctor today and yesterday, and they put special protection on it and cream, but it was still tough."

Ferrero, too, was not fully fit. He pulled out of Barcelona last week with a groin problem.

"I felt it again yesterday against Nicolas Kiefer," Ferrero said. "Today they put a bandage and I could move well."

Four other seeded players also were upset in the second round.

Coming off a loss to Nadal in the Barcelona final, fifth-seeded David Ferrer fell to Radek Stepanek 4-6, 6-2, 6-1; Spanish clay-court specialist Nicolas Almagro beat seventh-seeded David Nalbandian 6-4, 7-5; Igor Andreev defeated No. 13 Juan Monaco 4-6, 6-1, 6-4; and Stanislas Wawrinka upset No. 14 Andy Murray 6-2, 7-6 (5).

Murray received treatment for an apparent groin injury.

Third-ranked Novak Djokovic showed no signs of illness when he cruised past Steve Darcis 6-4, 6-0 in his opening match. In Monte Carlo, Djokovic pulled out of his semifinal against Federer after falling behind 6-3, 3-2. Tests revealed a strep throat.

"I finished with my medication yesterday," Djokovic said. "So hopefully now I'll get better in the future."

Also, fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko beat Croatian wild card Mario Ancic 6-2, 6-2; No. 8 James Blake held off Andreas Seppi of Italy 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-1; and No. 12 Fernando Gonzalez, last year's finalist, defeated Russian qualifier Evgeny Korolev 6-3, 6-2.

Ferrero connected on a cross-court backhand winner to break Nadal and win the first set, then broke again to lead 3-1 in the second when Nadal netted a forehand.

"I can't put the ball long; I can't put the foot on the floor," Nadal said. "So every time the ball (went) short."

With Ferrero ahead 4-1 in the second set, Nadal called for a trainer and had his foot re-taped. After deciding to play, he was broken again. Ferrero served the match out at love.

Nadal routed Ferrero 6-4, 6-1 in the third round in Monte Carlo and had won all four of their previous meetings on clay.

Ferrero reached the top of the rankings in 2003, on the strength of his Roland Garros title and runner-up finish at the U.S. Open. Hampered by injuries, he has finished outside the top 15 every year since 2003.

"It was a very important win for me," Ferrero said. "I feel special right now. I haven't had this special feeling for a long time."