ROME — Rafael Nadal became the first player to break John Isner's serve in nearly a month, and he did it twice in a 6-4, 6-4 win Thursday to reach the Italian Open quarterfinals.
Andy Murray and Serena Williams, meanwhile, both withdrew from the last big warm-up tournament before the French Open, which starts in 10 days.
Murray cited fatigue following consecutive clay titles in Munich and Madrid, while Williams said she has been struggling with a right elbow injury.
The 16th-seeded Isner had held serve in 84 consecutive games stretching back to his last meeting with Nadal on April 16 in the Monte Carlo Masters, when Nadal broke him in the third set and went on to win.