Novak Djokovic (11) and Kei Nishikori played the best match of the clay court season to date, and one of the best clashes of the year, in their Italian Open quarter final.
Attacking each other throughout the two hours twenty minutes of brilliant shot making, at no time was it clear which way the result would turn.
It was the Japanese number one who set the early pace, breaking Djokovic thanks to Serbian wayward backhands.
A further break in the fifth game came after a drop shot forehand combination and Nishikori led 4-1.
Djokovic had no answer and lost the set 6-2.
Of course the expected comeback occurred, and Novak concentrated on the Nishikori second serve with huge success - 71% of points won.
Kei failed to hold serve in the set, and although he managed to break the Djokovic delivery once, he surrendered 6-1 and a decider was required.
Set three was where the quality of the match lifted even higher as each player contributed, especially on return of serve. Djokovic broke first, and led 2-1, but Nishikori replied in kind and took the advantage 3-2 on serve.
Djokovic was made to work hard in the sixth game as Nishikori continued to play some extraordinary shots. However, Djokovic answered on the important points with exquisite backhands and forehands, and solid first serves when it mattered.
Following his failure to convert his break opportunity, Nishikori lost his own serve after Djokovic was successful attacking the Japanese backhand.
At 4-3, the Serbian serve was in trouble at 0-30, and a break point down, but once again amazing shot making created an escape route for Djokovic, despite Nishikori’s brilliance.
3-5 was too much for Kei, and even after leading on serve 15-0, he finished with a slew of errors, handing the game to Novak, who won a highly entertaining battle 2-6 6-1 6-3.
Other quarter finals:
Rafa Nadal (1) defeated Fabio Fognini 4-6 6-1 6-2
He will play Novak Djokovic in the semis
This will be the 51st time (a record) that the two have met - Novak leads 26-24 head to head and they are 3-3 in Rome.
Djokovic has inflicted 19% of the 36 Nadal losses on clay.
Marin Cilic (4) defeated Pablo Carreno Busta (10) 6-3 6-3
He will play Sascha Zverev in the semis
Sascha Zverev (2) defeated David Goffin (9) 6-4 3-6 6-3
Women’s quarter finals:
Simona Halep (1) defeated Caroline Garcia (7) 6-2 6-3
She will play Maria Sharapova in the semis and regardless of how the cards fall, will regain the world number one ranking briefly surrendered to Caroline Wozniacki
Maria Sharapova defeated Jelena Ostapenko (5) 6-7(6) 6-4 7-5
Even with the loss, Ostapenko could rise to a career high of 4 in the world, only if Svitolina doesn’t win the tournament.
Elina Svitolina (4) defeated Angie Kerber (11) 6-4 6-4
She will play Anett Kontaveit in the semis
Anett Kontaveit defeated Caroline Wozniacki (2) 6-3 6-1
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