article_snippet.sent: Rafael Nadal bid for a ninth Barcelona Open title ended in third-round defeat as Italian Italian Fabio Fognini  edged a hard-fought encounter 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) to move into the quarter-finals.
article_snippet.sent: Second-seed Rafael Nadal had easily seen off Nicolas Almagro in the previous round but found Rafael Nadal in trouble against Fognini, who had won in three sets in their previous meeting on the clay of Rio earlier this year.
article_snippet.sent: And on the same surface in front of Rafael Nadal's home crowd, it was Italian Fabio Fognini  who took the opening set 6-4 after a crucial break in the latter stages, though the second set was to prove an even tighter affair.
article_snippet.sent: Rafael Nadal was dumped out of the Barcelona Open after losing to Italian Fabio Fognini in the third round .
article_snippet.sent: Italian Fabio Fognini  was able to save six break points in the opening game before conceding Italian Fabio Fognini  to Rafael Nadal, though neither player really dominated even as the Spaniard went 4-2 up.
article_snippet.sent: After Italian Fabio Fognini  first fought back to 4-4, the set eventually went to a tie-break with Rafael Nadal this time having to work Italian Fabio Fognini  way back from facing match point at 6-3 to level up.
article_snippet.sent: Rafael Nadal showed Rafael Nadal resolve late on but Rafael Nadal was Italian Fabio Fognini  who eventually won through 8-6, with Rafael Nadal opponent missing a relatively routine forehand.
article_snippet.sent: It was Fognini's first win in Rafael Nadal six Barcelona appearances but
article_snippet.sent: Italian Fabio Fognini  will now face Pablo Andujar, who also caused an upset in coming through 6-3, 6-4 against fifth-seed Feliciano Lopez.
article_snippet.sent: Nadal, who was denied Italian Fabio Fognini  20th win of the season, cut an extremely disappointed figure after Italian Fabio Fognini  defeat, going so far as terming it 'a disaster'.
article_snippet.sent: Fognini edged a hard-fought encounter 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) to move into the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open . '
article_snippet.sent: Italian Fabio Fognini  played better and Italian Fabio Fognini  deserved to win.
article_snippet.sent: It's a very sad day for Fognini.
article_snippet.sent: This tournament means a lot to Fognini, This tournament's one of the best ATP 500 events on the tour and
article_snippet.sent: Fognini goes on to face Pablo Andujar, who also caused an upset against fifth seed Feliciano Lopez .
highlights_snippet.sent: But the world No 4 lost to Italian Fabio Fognini 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) in third round .
  