Seventh-ranked Holger Rune beat a frustrated Novak Djokovic 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 in a rain-interrupted quarterfinal at the Italian Open, where women's top seed Iga Swiatek retired injured on Wednesday.

Djokovic, who will drop to second in the world behind Carlos Alcaraz, admitted that he was outplayed in heavy, wet conditions after a week of rain in normally sunny Rome.

"This is probably the coldest, wettest tournament I've ever played here in Rome," the 22-time Grand Slam winner said.

"I don't recall so many days in a row (of) raining. In these conditions, it's very difficult to get the ball past him."

"He's a very talented, dynamic player — he was too good for me for most of the match," Djokovic added of Rune.

'This is probably the coldest, wettest tournament I've ever played here in Rome.'

With her French Open title defense looming this month, Swiatek retired in the third set of her quarterfinal against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina.

Poland's Swiatek had roared through the first set but after receiving treatment she called a halt with a right leg injury to hand Wimbledon champion Rybakina a 2-6, 7-6 (7/3), 2-2 win and a semifinal spot.

Victory in drizzle and evening chill came in just under two and a half hours as Swiatek's 14-match Rome win streak was ended.

Rybakina ended with 32 winners and 26 unforced errors, in a match Swiatek led by a set and 4-2.

"It's never good to win like this," Rybakina said.

"I hope it's nothing serious for Iga."

"I'm glad to win, every match I play on clay gives me more confidence," she added.

"I didn't start well but in the second set I found my rhythm."