BARCELONA, Spain: Top-ranked Rafael Nadal's clay-court struggles worsened Friday as his 41-match winning streak at the Barcelona Open ended with a three-set loss to Nicolas Almagro in the quarterfinals.
Nadal was looking for his ninth title in Barcelona but lost 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4, a week after going out in the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters at the same stage.
Almagro converted his second match point, smashing a forehand down the line for his first career victory over his fellow Spaniard on the 11th try.
Nadal hadn't lost at the tournament since his debut as a 15-year-old in 2003.
Almagro will play either Philipp Kohlschreiber or Santiago Giraldo in the semifinals.
