Rafael Nadal advanced to the Rome Masters third round on Wednesday as fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro was forced to retire with a left knee injury.
Almagro, a three-time French Open quarter-finalist - he lost all three to Nadal - was unable to continue after 24 minutes while trailing his compatriot 3-0 in the first set.
Results: Fourth Day
Women 2nd round
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS x 12) bt Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 7-6(4), 6-2
Karolina Pliskova (CZE x 2) bt Lauren Davis (USA) 6-1, 6-1
Elina Svitolina (UKR x 8) bt Alize Cornet (FRA) 6-4, 7-6 (13/11)
Simona Halep (ROM x 6) bt Laura Siegemund (GER) 6-4, 6-4
Mona Barthel (GER) bt Wang Qiang (CHN) 6-3, 6-4
Kiki Bertens (NED x15) bt Catherine Bellis (USA) 6-4, 6-0
Men 2nd round
Rafael Nadal (ESP x 4) bt Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 3-0 - retired
Kei Nishikori (JPN x 7) bt David Ferrer (ESP) 7-5, 6-2.
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