Nadal breaks another clay-court record

The world No. 1 had matched Romanian legend Ilie Nastase's effort of 36 sets won in a row as he beat Kei Nishikori to win an 11th title in Monte-Carlo and he overtook him with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against his compatriot. Rafa has not dropped a set since losing to Dominic Thiem in Rome last season — a loss that ended a run of 17 straight victories. Rafa will face another compatriot in the third round as Guillermo Garcia-Lopez progressed after two-time champion Kei Nishikori was forced to retire.

Novak Djokovic suffered a surprise defeat in his latest comeback from injury after the Serb was beaten by Martin Klizan in his first match at the Barcelona Open on Wednesday.

Djokovic had been due to meet Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals in Spain but a disjointed display gave Klizan, ranked 140th in the world, a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 victory.

While Klizan goes through to meet Spanish clay-court specialist Feliciano Lopez in the last 16, Djokovic will now have to reset, with the French Open next month fast approaching.

Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem on Wednesday debuted at the Barcelona Open with a victory against Spaniard Jaume Munar and advanced to the last 16 round. Barcelona: Rafael Nadal set a new Open Era record for the most consecutive sets won on clay, as he reeled off his 37th and 38th against Roberto Carballes Baena in Barcelona.

The world No. 1 had matched Romanian legend Ilie Nastase's effort of 36 sets won in a row as he beat Kei Nishikori to win an 11th title in Monte-Carlo and he overtook him with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against his compatriot. Rafa has not dropped a set since losing to Dominic Thiem in Rome last season — a loss that ended a run of 17 straight victories. Rafa will face another compatriot in the third round as Guillermo Garcia-Lopez progressed after two-time champion Kei Nishikori was forced to retire.

Novak Djokovic suffered a surprise defeat in his latest comeback from injury after the Serb was beaten by Martin Klizan in his first match at the Barcelona Open on Wednesday.

Djokovic had been due to meet Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals in Spain but a disjointed display gave Klizan, ranked 140th in the world, a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 victory.

While Klizan goes through to meet Spanish clay-court specialist Feliciano Lopez in the last 16, Djokovic will now have to reset, with the French Open next month fast approaching.

Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem on Wednesday debuted at the Barcelona Open with a victory against Spaniard Jaume Munar and advanced to the last 16 round. Agencies