
Play in the first-round match between Rafael Nadal and Zizou Bergs was suspended for about nine minutes on Thursday due to a medical incident in the stands at the Foro Italico.
Bergs had just won the first set 6-4 against the 10-time Internazionali BNL d'Italia champion in their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. Nadal took a 40/0 lead in the first game of the second set when the incident occurred.
Chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani quickly brought water bottles to the stands to be rushed up to the fan. The players looked on in concern.
While medical personnel attended to the fan, Nadal spoke to coach Carlos Moya to strategise after losing the first set. Bergs sat in his chair with his eyes closed for the majority of the delay.
Immediately after play resumed, Nadal held serve and then broke the Belgian's serve for the second time in the match to take a 2-0 lead in the second set.