Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Rafael Nadal retires in third set at Miami Open against Damir Dzumhur

Rafael Nadal hadn’t retired from a tennis match in more than six years. (Associated Press)
Steven Wine Associated Press

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – Rafael Nadal faded in the subtropical heat and retired after falling behind in the third set of his opening match Saturday at the Miami Open against Damir Dzumhur.

The No. 5-seeded Nadal trailed 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 when he called it quits after losing a point to fall behind 30-15. He had earlier consulted with a trainer at his chair between games three times, and had his blood pressure checked.

The match lasted less than two hours, but the weather was sunny and humid, with a temperature approaching 90 degrees and even higher on the stadium hardcourt.

Nadal, a 14-time Grand Slam champion, hasn’t won a tournament since August. But it had been 443 matches since he retired – in the 2010 Australian Open quarterfinals against Andy Murray.

Key Biscayne remains one of the biggest tournaments Nadal has never won. He’s 0-4 in finals.

Dzumhur, a 23-year-old Bosnian ranked 94th, rallied with a variety of tactics, including half a dozen drop shots for winners and an occasional serve and volley. Nadal had to work hard from the start, failing to convert nine break-point chances during a marathon second game before Dzumhur double-faulted to lose serve.

The heat also appeared to bother the 154-pound Dzumhur, who consulted with a trainer following the first set.

Nadal finished 3 for 13 converting break points. Dzumhur was 4 for 4.

Nadal’s departure left the draw without three of the five highest-seeded men. No. 4 Stan Wawrinka lost to Andrey Kuznetsov 6-4, 6-3, and No. 3 Roger Federer withdrew Friday because of a stomach virus.

No. 6 Kei Nishikori defeated qualifier Pierre-Hughes Herbert 6-2, 7-6 (4). No. 12 Milos Raonic, the runner-up at Indian Wells this month, beat Denis Kudla 7-6 (4), 6-4.

In women’s play, No. 8 Petra Kvitova lost to No. 30 Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 6-4. No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska, the 2012 champion, eliminated Madison Brengle 6-3, 6-2.