Rome - Rafael Nadal was undergoing medical checks in hospital Thursday only hours before his third-round match at the Rome Masters, after complaining of dizziness in a win the previous day. Tournament officials were keeping tight-lipped about details, but the Spanish world number 2 was reported to have been examined at a Rome hospital.
Nadal is riding an all-time clay win streak of 73 matches. Should he fail to front up for his contest later against Russian Mikhail Youzhny, the result would not end the streak, the ATP said.
"I don't have anything, but I was a little bit dizzy before the match," two-time Rome champion Nadal said on Wednesday after defeating Italian Daniele Bracciale.
"I went to the doctor and he said it was nothing."
Nadal last lost on clay in April 2005, winning 12 titles in the interim.
Should Nadal be unable to play it be another big blow for the tournament. Earlier Thursday, world number 1 Roger Federer crashed out against Italy's Filippo Volandri. Nadal beat Federer in an epic five-set final for the title last year.