Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates after defeating Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka in their tennis match at the Monte-Carlo ATP Masters Series tournament , on April 15, 2016 in Monaco.
monte carlo - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga brought the injury-comeback week for Roger Federer to a screeching halt
Published: Fri 15 Apr 2016, 9:37 PM
Last updated: Sat 16 Apr 2016, 12:35 AM
Andy Murray will face the toughest clay test imaginable at the Monte Carlo Masters with a semifinal against Rafael Nadal, after crushing an under-done Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-0 on Friday.
Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga brought the injury-comeback week for Roger Federer to a screeching halt as the eighth seed rallied past the Swiss 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Federer, out for more than two months after a knee operation, did not help his cause with a run of careless errors to end the two-hour battle, after easing through his first two matches of the week. Tsonga will play a semi-final against the winner from 13th seed Gael Monfils and Spain's Marcel Granollers.
Rafael Nadal, winner of eight straight titles here from 2005-2012, holds the edge over the second-seeded Murray, defeating him in 2009 and 2011 semi-finals in the principality.
The Spanish fifth seed, who has struggled for form in the last 18 months, looked back to his best as he beat French Open champion Stan Wawrinka 6-1, 6-4 in their quarterfinal. "Every day is a different story," Nadal said. "The last three games of the first set was the only moment Stan didn't play well. Obviously he played with too many mistakes.
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates his win over Stanislas Wawrinka in Monte Carlo on Friday. — AP
Tennis - Monte Carlo Masters - Monaco, 15/04/2016. Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after winning his match against Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard