Rafael Nadal will attempt to win an incredible 11th Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters crown on Sunday after defeating Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in their Saturday semi-final 6-4, 6-1. It is the sixth time that Rafa has advanced to the final without dropping a set.
He saw a 3-0 first-set lead slip away as Dimitrov laid down the first real challenge to the Spaniard this week, only for a sloppy service game from the Bulgarian to gift the 10-time champion the opening set.
That effectively ended Dimitrov’s chances, and Rafa broke to love in the second game of the second set.
Eight straight points on his opponent’s serve saw Rafa storm towards the finishing line, and a wide Dimitrov backhand wrapped up yet another comfortable victory.
The World No. 1, playing in only his second tournament of the season, has now won 13 straight matches and 34 straight sets on clay since that hiccup against Dominic Thiem in the 2017 Internazionali BNL d’Italia quarter-finals in Rome.
Rafa will face either Alexander Zverev or Kei Nishikori in the final.
Sources: AFP, ATP World Tour
Rafa you are truly amazing.
What a testimony to your sportsmanship, winning the match, but feeling you needed to work on certain things on the practice courts.
You are a super professional.
All the best for your match against Kai,
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
Good on you Rafa – congrats 🤗
The best of luck for the finals 😘🍀
VAMOOS CHAMP!! 🎾💪🏼😍
Estoy tan contenta por Rafa ; gran Campeón, felicidades. Vamos Rafa ! ! !
Another clay tournament, Another trophy. Let’s tweet Wusserer To Roger Federer and Get him to enter the French! We want to see an actual match lol… these demolition matches aren’t fun to watch.
IMHO r is in hiding….and is officially being allowed to hide and is accommodated so there is the on going pretense he is still relevant………..
Great match! Go for #11! Vamos Rafa <3
History making again. Bravo Rafa . Didn’t see the match as travelling to Nice , going to Monte Carlo to morrow . Looking forward to a great champion dazzling us once more with his tennis and charisma.
Lucky you! I hope that you will see Rafa’s 11th. Also important is that he remains number one for at least one more week. This will break his tie with McEnroe at 170th weeks. He then moves into solo 6th place. Novak is next at 223, so that is a big gap.
Rafa didn’t play nearly as well as yesterday, far too many unforced errors. Grigor did well in the first set, getting nearly every ball back, but he was suffering from a shoulder issue in the second. Not sure Rafa would have made it had Grigor kept up his level. Everyone has off days and this was one for him. I hope he didn’t convince himself, after yesterday, that he couldn’t play as well again.
After the match finished, things got a bit odd. Rafa frantically texting and looking quite distracted as he was signing the camera lens. He then said what sounded like “Ce n’etait pas possible” – not sure to whom or why. It’s been suggested (El Espanol) that Rafa was texting his team to say he needed to get to the practice court immediately. Carlos and Co were laughing as they looked at their phones, they didn’t seem concerned.
Just heard on Tennis TV that Rafa is indeed out practising. And it’s probably the best thing to do, try and get some confidence back for tomorrow. Good luck Rafa!
He needs rest not more practice . Not surprised that his team smiled😀
Rafa’s work ethic has always been superior but after his match he should have gone through a recovery period, not more tennis. In 3 or 4 days he will be back on court competing and he needs as much rest as he can get.
Good luck to Rafa tomorrow vs Kei.
Barcelona is waiting. Already the qualies have started.
RAFA ROCKS
Rafa knows what he is doing. He is a rhythm player. If he feels the need to work on something, he’s gonna work on it until he wins a slam, gets to #1, gets back to #1, Etc… He wants to feel right for the final, if practice makes perfect then practice makes perfect.
Rafa at 70% can beat everyone ON CLAY not named Federer, Chokovic, Murray, Stan, Delpo. Dimitrov never had a shot lol… Even if he had kept his level from the first set as evidenced by him losing the first set lol!!!! He need d to elevate his level by a lot and Rafa’s level to fall in order for him to beat Rafa.
Kei is a better clay player than baby Gasquet so Kei has a shot to beat Rafa, just a shot. This isn’t 2014 though when Rafa was struggling with back issues. Kei has little chance to beat Rafa. Put your money on Rafa guys!!!
I just love seeing him play….great game. Rafa is truly the king.
I love watching him play too, but I love it more when he has an actual challenge. Such a pity Roger and Novak are scared of him now. They are the only guys that truly challenge him.
Vamos!
KING OF CLAY and COMEBACK KING. I’m just loving it. It makes me forget all the heartache from Rafa’s absences and loses.
RAFA ROCKS
Margo, This is actually a reply to your previous post where you welcome me back but there was no reply button. I have been missing a few posts due to having two surgeries recently. Not life threatening but not very comfortable.
Nevertheless I have been following all Rafa’s matches in Monte Carlo and can hardly wait until tonight’s match against Nishikori and an 11th title there.!!
Then on to Barcelona. My only concern is that he will wear himself out with over practicing although Moya is trying to get him to cut back. Not an easy task for someone like Rafa who has been practicing to excess throughout his entire career.
I hope he has some rest before he plays in Barcelona.
If I miss some posts in the next few months it will be due to two further surgeries. Fortunately there is nothing wrong with my 84 year old brain and our delightful Rafa is keeping me thinking young ( although he sometimes causes me some anxieties too. )
Do you know why there is often no REPLY button ? It makes it very difficult to post an answer where it should have gone.
Hi Beverley, I hope you feel better soon. It was very quiet from Australia so I was concerned.
About the reply links, I find that if I don’t post anything on a new RNF post there won’t be any reply links. But after I make my first comment I check the box under the “Post Comment” button after my email address so that I am notified of any comments made on that particular RNF post. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Lately I’ve been having problems too. Two or three months ago it was insane. I hope this post arrives where it should.
Yes, on to the final. Very happy Rafa had an easy road to the final because Barcelona is calling. Rest before Barcelona? Not a chance. He will play the final, rush off to Barcelona, then rush to practice.
Glad Rafa is keeping you thinking young. He’s turning me into a basket case.😂😂
RAFA ROCKS
Beverley, one more thing. I am speculating that when Rafa is feeling healthy, physically and mentally, he forgets about injury and forges ahead until he is exhausted. He “forgets” that he can push his body only so much and neglects to permit his body to “replenish” itself.
I don’t think he intends to play Rome. Whatever the case may be I sure he gets a decent time off before grass. A third Wimby would be really nice.
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
Super Rafa