Nadal out of Italian Open as Osaka and Swiatek progress

Rafael Nadal has been knocked out of the Italian Open by world number nine Hubert Hurkacz.

In what is likely to be the Spaniard's final appearance in Rome, Nadal was comfortably beaten 6-1 6-3 by the big-serving Pole in just 93 minutes.

Nadal, a 10-time winner in the Italian capital, has indicated that 2024 is likely to be his final season before retirement.

Should that be the case, he will retire with 70 wins in Rome and just nine defeats.

"Playing Rafa is something special," said Hurkacz. "He's just bigger than the sport at the end of the day."

Elsewhere, Polish world number one Iga Swiatek booked her place in the women's last 16 with a 6-3 6-4 win over Yulia Putintseva.

Swiatek came from 4-1 down in the second set to extend her winning streak to eight matches, and will take on Angelique Kerber in the next round after her straight-set win over Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

Naomi Osaka has still not dropped a set in the tournament so far after beating Daria Kasatkina 6-3 6-3.

The Japanese former world number three plays the winner of Linda Noskova and Qinwen Zheng next.