Rafael Nadal continues to lose, goes down to Nicolas Almagro in Barcelona

Rafael Nadal cut a forlorn figure during his loss to Nicolas Almagro in Barcelona

In yet another shocking result for Rafael Nadal, the World No. 1 has lost to Nicolas Almagro in the Barcelona quarterfinals 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.

This is Nadal’s first defeat in Barcelona since 2003; the Spaniard has won the tournament here a record eight times and was on a 41-match winning streak at the venue.

The loss is also Nadal’s first to Almagro; the World No. 1 had defeated his countryman in all 10 matches they had played before this.

What makes the result even more surprising is the fact that Nadal was up by a break in the deciding set. Up 3-1 in the third, he couldn’t protect his serve and was broken by Almagro to bring the match back on even terms.

Almagro then broke Nadal for a 5-4 lead and saved two break points before sealing the victory in 2 hours and 47 minutes.

Almagro, ranked No. 20 in the world, will now face either Santiago Giraldo or Philipp Kohlschreiber in the semifinals.