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Rafael Nadal displays lightning reactions to return Fabio Fognini shot which clipped net

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Rafael Nadal showed off his incredible reactions as he adjusted to return a shot after it clipped the net during his game with Fabio Fognini

Fabio Fognini may have sported a lightning bolt on his t-shirt, but it was Rafael Nadal with lightning-quick reactions in their quarter-final encounter at the Rome Masters.

Seven-time champion Nadal battled from a set down to silence Fognini on Friday, prevailing 4-6 6-1 6-2.

Italian Fognini was spurred on by a partisan crowd in Rome, but there was no stopping Nadal once he found his groove.

In the third set, a Fognini shot clipped the net with Nadal advancing, but somehow the Spaniard reacted quick enough to return the ball - without seemingly looking at it - and win the point.

Fabio Fognini may have sported the lightning bolt, but it was Nadal who produced a lightning-quick reaction shot
Image: Fabio Fognini may have sported the lightning bolt, but it was Nadal who produced a lightning-quick reaction shot

It ultimately proved to be a one-way deciding set, but this point typified why Nadal is so difficult to beat on the red dirt. Can anyone deny him an eighth title in Rome?

The Masters 1000 Series continues with our coverage of the ATP Italian Open on Sky Sports Arena on Friday.

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