Rafael Nadal advances to third round of the Rome Masters as Nicolas Almagro retires with injury

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.