Top 5 Photos 5/7: Thiem beats Isner; Rafa falls in Madrid

Friday in Madrid saw a 20-time major champion fall while another red dirt expert claimed his spot in his third consecutive clay-court Masters 1000. It was an exciting and action-packed day at the Mutua Madrid Open.

These are the Top 5 photos the sum up Friday's play. (All photos Getty)

1

Dominic Thiem

It was a tough day at the office for the Austrian, but in the end he came out with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over John Isner. Thiem survived 18 aces from the American and is through to his fourth consecutive semifinal at the Masters 1000 in Madrid. Last year's US Open champion will take on Alexander Zverev for a final-round spot.

2

Alexander Zverev

For the third time in a row, the German has triumphed over Rafael Nadal, but Friday marked his first victory over the Spaniard on clay. Zverev posted a 6-4, 6-4 score to set up a re-match of the 2020 US Open final against Thiem.

3

Casper Ruud

Make that three consecutive clay-court Masters 1000 semifinals for the 22-year-old. Ruud needed only 68 minutes to dispatch Alexander Bublik, 7-5, 6-1, and punch his ticket into Madrid's final four.

4

Nadal gets the reps

The newly crowned Laureus World Sportsman of the Year recipient didn't get the result he wanted in Madrid, bu it's important to note that the world No. 2 won a 12th Barcelona title and defeated the piping hot Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. He's likely got the reps he needs ahead of his most dominant major event.

5

Isner exits Top 30

The American's defeat in Madrid will see him exit the Top 30 in the rankings, which means there will be no American ATP competitor in the Top 30 for the first time since the rankings were established in 1973.