The 2008 Rome Masters produced a massive upset yesterday, when  number one seed Rafael Nadal succumbed to compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 6-1 in a second round fixture.

The loss was Nadal’s second in over a hundred games on the surface, and his first since losing to Roger Federer in the final of the Hamburg Open last year.

The loss was almost certainly a consequence of the fact that Nadal was not completely match fit, and was hampered by severe blistering on his right foot. Nadal had been complaining about the severity of the 2008 clay court schedule and had warned that it might lead to physical breakdown amongst the top players.

Today I didn’t play my best tennis and the truth is that I didn’t feel very good on court,” Nadal said after the match. “I couldn’t plant my legs on the floor with power and every time I was playing the ball short because I couldn’t play it long because of this pain. It was tough for me.”

Meanwhile Serb Novak Djokovic enjoyed a good day at the 2008 Rome Masters, overpowering Belgian Steve Darcis 6-4, 6-0 to cruise into the third round.