Rafael Nadal saught his eighth Rome Masters title in 2018, playing only his fifth tournament of the season at Foro Italico. Nadal was the top seed at one of his favorite tournaments, facingDamir Dzumhurin the second round and dropping one game.

The Spaniard set the third-round clash against the young Canadian Denis Shapovalov and produced a 6-4, 6-1 triumph in an hour and 22 minutes. The youngster stunned Nadal the previous summer in Montreal, and Rafa served revenge on his beloved surface in the Italian capital.

Shapovalov set to pass Milos Raonic as the Canadian no. 1 player but could not extend his Rome campaign against the most formidable rival. Rafa created 13 break chances and seized four. He served at 84% and dropped five points in eight service games to keep the pressure on the other side and sail over the top.

Thus, Nadal moved into the last eight and set the quarter-final clash against Fabio Fognini. The Spaniard tamed his strokes more efficiently and fired 16 winners and 12 unforced errors.

The Canadian failed to match those numbers, landing 14 winners and almost 30 mistakes and losing ground in the extended exchanges to hit the exit door. Denis had to dig deep right from the start, trying to avoid an early exit.

The youngster saved eight break points in the opening two service games with winners, mostly with powerful serves. Nadal settled into a fine rhythm right from the start and lost two points in his games in the entire set. Denis stayed in touch until 3-3 before Rafa finally broke him in game seven after the rival’s backhand error.

The Spaniard moved 5-3 up and served for the set in game ten. Nadal attacked with his forehand to wrap up the set 6-4 in 49 minutes and gain a boost. The more experienced player used this momentum and broke Shapovalov at love at the start of the second set.

We saw three commanding holds after that, with Nadal opening a 3-1 gap. Denis opened a 40-0 lead in the fifth game and still experienced a break to push Rafa 4-1 up and closer to the finish line. Nadal held for 5-1 and delivered another break a few minutes later after Shapovalov’s forehand error to celebrate his 53rd victory in Rome.