For the first time since 2005, the semifinals of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters will feature only one top ten player: Nine time champion Rafael Nadal.
MONTE-CARLO – Now more than ever, Rafael Nadal is the overwhelming favorite to win the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. Rafa, who has triumphed at the Country Club in Roquebrune an astonishing 9 nine times, seems poised to add title No. 10 to his incredible clay-court legacy. This year’s tournament has been full of upsets and surprising results. The last time that the semifinals featured only one top ten player was in 2005, when Coria was the “lone survivor” among the highest ranked players.
No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic suffered a surprising 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 quarterfinal defeat against David Goffin of Belgium. Fresh off a crucial Davis Cup weekend during which he only conceded 18 games in 6 sets to Seppi and Lorenzi of Italy, Goffin recorded the biggest win of his career in Friday’s quarterfinal against Djokovic, who failed to capitalize on a 2-0 lead in the final set. The Serb also didn’t convert two important break-points that would have given him a 3-0 advantage. “This is the biggest win of my career, especially considering that I had previously lost five times against Novak,” said Goffin, who could become the first player from Belgium to compete in the Monte-Carlo final in sixty years. Between Goffin and the final, stands none other than Rafael Nadal: “The most difficult clay court test ever,” explained the Belgian in his post-match press conference.
When No. 4 seed Rafael Nadal took the court against Diego Schwartzman of Argentina at 7:30 PM in the last quarterfinal of the day, he was already the only top player left in the draw. He eventually booked his spot in the semifinals with a routine 6-4, 6-4 win.
No. 11 seed Lucas Pouille kept hopes alive of a French titlist with a hard-fought 6-0, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay. Pouille is the sixteenth Frenchman to reach the semifinals in the history of the Monte-Carlo tournament. No. 15 seed Ramos Vinolas of Spain knocked out No. 5 seed Marin Cilic of Croatia after upsetting Andy Murray in the previous round.
So far this edition of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters has been an exciting and interesting tournament. It would be unfair to say all of the upsets that we saw this week occurred because of the best players’ poor form. Players such as Goffin and Pouille rely more on finesse than power and are an absolute joy to watch. They are also extremely polite, smart and well-mannered, which makes them very refreshing characters in the game of tennis.
(Article translation provided by T&L Global – Translation & Language Solutions – www.t-lglobal.com )
