Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal will go head-to-head at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Saturday after they cruised through their respective quarterfinal contests in straight sets on Friday. Murray thrashed Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-0 in one hour and six minutes before Nadal beat Stan Wawrinka 6-1, 6-4 after one hour and 17 minutes.
“Stan today, I think the last three games of the first set, that’s the only moment that he didn’t play well,” Nadal commented. “Obviously he played with too many mistakes. But in the beginning of the match and in the second set was a good match, in my opinion. Both played good points.
“I think he played with more mistakes than me. But is true at same time he is going more for the shots all the time. When you want to play this way, very aggressive, you can have mistakes. I think I played good. I defended well. I moved well. When I had the opportunity, I was trying to have the control of the point with my forehand and with my backhand, too. I am very happy the way that I played.”
Nadal interview:
It was not a good day for the Swiss stars, as Roger Federer joined Wawrinka on the sidelines. The 34-year-old Swiss got off to a fast start against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga but ended up bowing out 3-6, 6-2, 7-5. Tsonga broke Federer at 5-5 in the third set and then held from 0-30 down by winning the last four points of the match.
“I thought I was going to win the match maybe after the first set,” Federer said. “I thought I was going to win the match maybe the beginning of the third. But that doesn’t matter really. It was a good match. It was nice to play an intense match. I’m happy how the body reacted. So many good things this week. It’s all positive for me.”
Tsonga hot shot:
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Shit
I am currently in the States in Seattle and this time difference is killing me! Woke up to see Rafa won and checked in to share delight with my rafans here, checked the live score for Fed who had just won the first set… but it was 5 am here so I went back to sleep. Now I realize Fed managed to lose…too bad! I was hoping for the Fedal final…like in good old days…
I am about to see Rafa’s match vs Wawa and I am going to enjoy it!
On a different note…
BTW, all the media hype here about Donald and Ted accusing him of “wining not winning” becomes like obsession for an innocent observer who comes from Europe and doesn’t really care much about US elections…though, it gets kind of interesting and heating campaign…??
Just watched highlights of the match but I skipped to the last few games really. Roger had some bad misses on big points. That volley at 30-30 in the last game and his forehand dumped in the net at 15-30 at 5-4. So sad he lost. I was fine with Stan but Roger? All French semi at least. We get to see a surprise finalist. I want Gael to win the whole thing at this point lol. Realistically though Rafa is probably most likely to win the event then Andy then Jo then Gael.
Hey, give Roger a break! He’s just back from knee surgery. Winning a tournament on his worst surface is a bit much to expect. Btw, I’m a huge Nadal fan but I respect and admire Fed and would have LOVED a Fedal final.
was a rare opportunity for a Fedal final with no Djokovic