TENNIS
Rafael Nadal’s first tournament in seven months ended with a 6-2, 7-5 loss to Diego Schwartzman in the quarterfinals of the Italian Open on Saturday.
Nadal, a nine-time champion in Rome, had never lost to 15th-ranked Schwartzman in nine previous meetings. But Schwartzman dictated the baseline rallies and produced a series of drop-shot winners as Nadal uncharacteristically made unforced errors and struggled to get his first serve into play.
Nadal, who chose not to play the U.S. Open due to travel concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic, had not played a tournament since winning a title in Acapulco, Mexico, in February. He now has one week to regroup before he attempts to win a record-extending 13th French Open title.
Earlier, Novak Djokovic lost his cool again midway through a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win over German qualifier Dominik Koepfer – less than two weeks after getting defaulted from the U.S. Open.
When Djokovic was broken at love to even the second set at 3-3, he slammed his racket to the red clay in anger and received a warning from the chair umpire.
Aiming for his fifth title in Rome, Djokovic’s semifinal opponent will be Casper Ruud, who eliminated local favorite Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) in a match that lasted 2 hours, 57 minutes.
In the women’s tournament, top-seeded Simona Halep reached the last four when opponent Yulia Putintseva retired midway through their match because of a lower back injury.
Halep next plays Garbine Muguruza, who required more than two hours to eliminate U.S. Open runner-up Victoria Azarenka 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
GOLF
LPGA: Mel Reid shot a 7-under 65 on her 33rd birthday to take a two-stroke lead over defending champion Hannah Green into the final round of the Cambia Portland Classic in Oregon.
Winless on the LPGA Tour, Reid had a 12-under 132 total in the event reduced to 54 holes because of poor air quality caused by wildfires.
CHAMPIONS TOUR: Jim Furyk wasted a fast morning start with a dismal finish in the second round of the Pure Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach, California, allowing Ernie Els to take a two-stroke lead.
Trying to join Arnold Palmer and Bruce Fleisher as the only players to win their first two starts on the senior tour, Furyk followed his opening 8-under 64 with a 73.
Els shot a 70 to get to 9-under 135.
SOCCER
MLS: Sean Johnson made seven saves for his third shutout in the last four games and New York City played the New England Revolution to a 0-0 tie in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Johnson had a pair of diving stops in the first 20 minutes and added two saves in the closing minutes. He has five shutouts this season, and has allowed just three goals in the last eight games.
New York City (5-5-2) is unbeaten, with four wins, in its last six games. New England (3-3-6) has just one win in its last five games.
GERMANY: American midfielder Gio Reyna scored his first Bundesliga goal to help Borussia Dortmund beat Borussia Monchengladbach 3-0 in its league opener.
Reyna, 17, played a one-two combination with Jude Bellingham, also 17, and fired a shot past keeper Yann Sommer in the 35th minute.
Some 9,300 fans attended the game – the first time Dortmund has had supporters since coronavirus restrictions began in March.
ENGLAND: Manchester United was well off the pace in its first Premier League game of the season, losing 3-1 at home to Crystal Palace.
FOOTBALL
NFL: The Detroit Lions put starting guard Joe Dahl on injured reserve because of a groin injury Saturday, a day before playing the Packers on the road.
The Lions have also ruled out wide receiver Kenny Golladay and cornerback Desmond Trufant for Sunday’s against Green Bay because of hamstring injuries.
• The Las Vegas Raiders listed starting right tackle Trent Brown (calf injury) and backup Sam Young (groin) as doubtful for Monday night’s game against the Saints.
• The San Francisco 49ers have ruled out edge rusher Dee Ford for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.
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