Rafael Nadal's French Open shock
Rafael Nadal has lost his first set at the French Open in three years after playing against Argentine Diego Schwartzman in their quarter-final.
The match, which was suspended for the night due to bad weather, left Nadal in danger of a shock defeat when the rain gave him a much-needed reprieve at 4-6, 5-3, (30-15).
Schwartzman managed to make Nadal lose his first set for the first time in his last 38 at Roland Garros, a feat that stretches over three French Open campaigns.
However, the match was paused for an hour due to the rain, and when they came back on, Nadal had refocused and broke back to level the second set.
After the second set, the rain fell again, and the players were forced off the court once more for good.
Tonight, the match will continue as Schwartzman attempts to be the third player to beat Nadal in 86 single matches at the French Open.
In 2009, Nadal lost to Sweden’s Robin Soderling, and in 2015, he lost to then-world No 1 Novak Djokovic in their quarter-final.
The Spaniard also pulled out of the 2016 tournament because of a wrist injury before his match with Marcel Granollers.
Despite being one of the shortest players on tour at 170cm, Schwartzman proved to have a strong forehand which shook the world No 1.
Nadal, who took three months out of the game after his 2016 wrist injury, needed treatment on both of his wrists at the end of the first set.
After the first rain interruption, Schwartzman’s momentum was disrupted, and Nadal returned with back-to-back breaks which won him the second set.
Nadal led 30-15 before the match was suspended for the night.