Fognini knocks Rafael Nadal out of Rio Open in semifinals (Yahoo Sports)

Rafael Nadal was beaten in the semifinals of the Rio Open on Saturday, losing 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 on clay to Italian Fabio Fognini, who will meet David Ferrer in the final. He lost in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, was beaten in the first round of the Qatar Open, and is now out of Rio, on his preferred clay surface, in a tournament he won last year. ”Everybody knows he (Nadal) is the best on this surface,” Fognini said.