Grigor Dimitrov dumps Rafa Nadal out of China Open
The world number 20 arrested a win-loss record of 0-8 against the second seed with a commanding 6-2, 6-4 victory in the last eight in Beijing. <ul> <li> <a href=" http://en.as.com/en/2017/01/28/other_sports/1485631975_719948.html" title="Federer v Nadal live online: Australian Open final preview and latest news">Federer v Nadal live</a>. </li> </ul>
Rafa Nadal was sent packing in the last eight at the China Open by world number 20 Grigor Dimitrov on Friday.
Despite two breaks in the first set, the fourteen-time Grand Slam champion was unable to keep his serve and Dimitrov kept the pressure on for a 6-2, 6-4 victory -- his first over the Spaniard in nine attempts.
Nadal: "You can't lose your serve five times"
"Losing five serves in a row is something that you cannot [do and] win a match like this. That's it," Nadal said after the loss.
Nadal, 30, is approaching the end of his second consecutive season without a Slam title since he won his first aged 19 at Roland Garros in 2005.
The loss in the Chinese capital also puts his qualification for an 11th consecutive ATP Final -- which brings together the season's top eight players -- in doubt.