And Fognini was also responsible for another of Nadal’s real low points of a season to forget in 2015.
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Nishikori entered Friday’s match still looking for his best serve, and it showed during the first set, as Dolgopolov attacked his opponent early and often and wasn’t afraid to step very high into the court to make some plays.
Siegemund nearly quit tennis a few years ago and only returned for good full time after completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology last year.
In 2014, Nadal fell in the quarter-finals to compatriot Nicolas Almagro.
It means 29-year-old Nadal is now searching for yet another title in Barcelona, having dominated the tournament between 2005 and 2009 and then between 2011 and 2013.
This year, however, with Nadal’s form and confidence on the rise, the draw seemed set to bring the two most recent Barcelona champions together for the title bout.
However, Nadal, who won his first tournament of the year in Monte Carlo last week, broke back when Fognini was serving for the set at 5-4.
The second-seeded Japanese will face Benoit Paire in Saturday’s other semifinal. “He’s a fast player and will be very hard to beat, he gives you no time to react and is one of the best in the world”.
Paire broke back in the second set, but swiftly surrendered his serve again as Nishikori converted his third match point to seal victory in just an hour and six minutes.
Eight-time champion Rafael Nadal and 2-time defending Barcelona victor Kei Nishikori continued on their collision course to a Sunday showdown today in quarterfinal play.
This one would look little different.
Second seed Kei Nishikori, champion at the last two editions, twice lost leads in the second set but rediscovered his game on both occasions in a 6-3, 7-5 defeat of Frenchman Jeremy Chardy.
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Nadal endured a surprising slump in the second set and found himself a break down at 4-2, before recovering in game 10 when Fognini failed to serve out for the set.
