BARCELONA: World number one Rafael Nadal suffered his first defeat in Barcelona since 2003 on Friday when compatriot Nicolas Almagro ended his 41-match winning run in the Spanish city.
Top seed Nadal, the eight-time champion, lost 2-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to Almagro in a quarter-final lasting 13 minutes short of three hours.
Nadal, who lost in the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals to David Ferrer last week, had last been beaten in Barcelona when he was just 15 years old.
Despite the defeat, 27-year-old Nadal refused to panic with the defence of his French Open crown starting in just a month´s time.
He said losing a tennis match was nothing in comparison to the death of former Barcelona football coach Tito Vilanova who lost his battle with cancer at the age of 45 on Friday.
"To lose is not a drama. What has happened to Tito Vilanova is. We are left with his example and I send my support to his family," said Nadal. He added: "I was better in parts of the match, but sport is like that. It was my turn to lose and I congratulate Nico."
Nadal will next defend his Madrid and Rome Masters claycourt titles -- two of the 10 tournaments he won in 2013 after a seven-month injury lay-off.He could lose his world number one ranking with Novak Djokovic set to pounce."I lacked a bit of intensity at points in the match," added Nadal.
"That is tennis and now I have to suffer for a bit, but keep fighting and think about Madrid." (AFP)
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