Rafael Nadal's stuttering season continued as he was stunned 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) by Italy's Fabio Fognini at the Barcelona Open on Thursday.

Nadal, an eight-time champion in Barcelona, had won four of the previous five meetings between the two, but also lost to Fognini on clay earlier this season in Rio de Janeiro.

However, despite saving three match points in the second set tie-break, a forehand error gifted the Italian a shock place in the quarter-finals.

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