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Rafael Nadal Falls Apart on Clay, Just in Time for the French Open

Nadal, playing in pain in a loss to Denis Shapovalov at the Italian Open, came away downbeat and pensive with the year’s second Grand Slam event less than two weeks away.

Rafael Nadal during his three-set loss to Denis Shapovalov at the Italian Open on Thursday. “My problem is that many days I live with too much pain,” Nadal said.Credit...Alessandra Tarantino/Associated Press

ROME — Quick and dominant in the first set against Denis Shapovalov, Rafael Nadal was quite the opposite down the stretch at the Italian Open on Thursday night.