Opportunities like getting to play the second-best player in the world on centre court in front of a packed stadium, with the home crowd cheering every winner off your racquet, are few and far between for an Indian ranked No 480 in the world. It was Karan Rastogi’s big day today and boy, what a gallant effort the journeyman put up against two-time French Open champion and top seed Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard won 6-4, 6-1.

The Mallorcan, who will now take on Italian Davide Sanguinetti — who upset French eighth seed Nicolas Mahut 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-3 — for a place in the last four was all praise for his opponent. “He has a good backhand and he is fast on court. It was a difficult win today,” Nadal told reporters at the post-match conference, before adding: “It’s easier when you are playing under zero pressure.”

The Mumbaikar gave it all he had, chased down every ball and came up with a few spectacular cross-court volleys. Not many would have expected Rastogi to put up such a brave fight, including the player himself. “Yeah, I did better than I expected. I was just hoping that I don’t get kicked around badly,” smiled Rastogi.

The first set saw some good, clean hitting by the Indian. With no pressure on him, the underdog played a very tight game, matching the energetic Spaniard stroke for stroke. Unfortunately, it was a few errors made at crucial junctures that did the Indian in. With the score reading 4-4 in the opening set, a forehand error by Rastogi gave Nadal the break, and a few minutes later, the set.

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