DHAKA: World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal for the seventh time in a row, winning 7-5 7-6 (7-4).

The defending champion will meet Japan's Kei Nishikori after the sixth seed beat Austrian Dominic Thiem 6-3 7-5 in one hour and 39 minutes, BBC reports on Saturday (May 14).

Djokovic, who beat Murray in the Madrid Open final last week, has now won his last 13 matches and is bidding for a fifth title in Rome.

Nadal, a seven-time winner of the tournament, started well and broke to lead 3-2 but Djokovic recovered to level at 4-4 and then won the first set on his fourth set point.

In the second set Nadal broke in the opening game and despite calling the physio because of pain in his left foot, he held his advantage to lead 5-4.

Serving for the set he held five set points but Djokovic saved the lot and broke back, eventually sealing the match in the tie-break.

‘Winning against Nadal is the ultimate challenge on clay courts and one of the toughest challenges we have in sport.’

BDST: 1346 HRS, May 14, 2016
SAS/AKA