ROME — With the French Open rapidly approaching, Rafael Nadal is suddenly not so dominant on clay anymore.
The Spaniard was beaten 7-6 (7), 6-2 by eighth-seeded Stan Wawrinka in the Italian Open quarterfinals Friday, his fifth loss on clay this season.
Nadal wasted four set points in the tiebreaker, surrendering a 6-2 lead.
The last time Nadal was beaten so many times on his favorite surface was 12 years ago — in his rookie season.
Nadal has won the French Open nine of the past 10 years. But he's struggling to get back to his best after a wrist injury and an appendectomy last season.