Nadal one step closer to sixth straight title in Monte Carlo; will face Verdasco for the crown

Rafael Nadal is on course to capture his sixth straight Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters title, after extending his winning streak to 31 matches at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tournament on Saturday.

In overcast conditions, second seed Nadal defeated his Spanish compatriot and No. 11 seed David Ferrer for the seventh time in eight matches on clay courts with a 6-2, 6-3 victory in 76 minutes.

"I am playing very well," said Nadal. "I think I played a very good match today. The last two games, I was a little bit more nervous than usual because I lost two semi-finals in a row, at [the BNP Paribas Open in] Indian Wells and [the Sony Ericsson Open in] Miami. I think I played very, very complete match."

Nadal was forced to save one break point with an ace at 30/40 in the second game, prior to Ferrer buckling under pressure at 15/40 by playing a backhand drop shot into the net. Growing in confidence, Nadal quickly moved into a 4-1 lead when Ferrer hit a forehand approach long at 15/40 in the fifth game. Nadal was able to secure the 36-minute first-set with a service hold to love, with Ferrer hitting a forehand long.

Ferrer committed a forehand error to gift Nadal a 2-1 lead in the second set, but responded immediately. Serving at 30/40 in the fourth game Nadal was caught out by a Ferrer forehand, who clinched the break with a fourth successive shot behind his opponent.

There was a third successive service break in the fifth game. Ferrer saved the first of two break points when Nadal netted a crosscourt backhand, but then hit a pin-point accurate forehand winner that left Ferrer stranded on the other side of the court.

Nadal opened up a 5-2 lead, before falling to 30/40. Ferrer pinned Nadal well behind the baseline and hit a clever backhand drop volley that could not be scrambled up. But Nadal was not to be denied his 20th win of the year, winning four of the next five points to book his place in Sunday's final against sixth-seeded compatriot Fernando Verdasco.

"I think Verdasco [has] always had amazing potential," said Nadal. "He can play very well. [The] important thing is [that] if he is focused mentally, his shots are unbelievable. He can be at very high level."

Nadal will face Fernando Verdasco, who easily ousted top seed Novak Djokovic with a score of 62 62 in the other semifinal.


Saturday, 17 April 2010

Singles - Semi-finals
[2] R Nadal (ESP) d [11] D Ferrer (ESP) 62 63
[6] F Verdasco (ESP) d [1] N Djokovic (SRB) 62 62