World number seven Rafa Nadal is on course to win his 10th Monte Carlo Masters title. Nadal handed a loss to Belgium's David Goffin in the semi-final to reach this year's final of Monte Carlo. Spain's Nadal lost just four games on Saturday to Goffin 6-3 6-1. The Spaniard now has a 1-0 head-to-head record over the world number 13 from Belgium as the match on Saturday was their first ever on the ATP level.
Nadal had a good day on his second serve, winning 12-of-14 of his points behind that serve. He converted 5-of-11 of his break point chances and saved 3-of-4 of Goffin's break point opportunities.
It took an hour and 29 minutes for the semi-final clash to be concluded.
Albert Ramos-Vinolas' dream week continues
Spanish tennis player Albert Ramos-Vinolas was the first player on Saturday to reach the Monte Carlo Masters final. Ramos-Vinolas defeated rising Lucas Pouille in the first singles semi-final of the day to make his first Masters 1000 final. The Spaniard world number 24 outgunned the Frenchman in a three-setter 6-3 5-7 6-1. Veteran Ramos has now ties his head-to-head record at 1-1 against 23-year-old Pouille.
Ramos-Vinolas took almost the most of his break point chances, converting 5-of-6 of his break point tries. He saved 7-of-9 of Pouille's break point opportunities. The match lasted two hours and 15 minutes.
All set up for an all Spanish final
Spain is set to have a champion this year at the Monte Carlo Masters as Rafa Nadal and Albert Ramos-Vinolas will be meeting in the final. Nadal and Ramos-Vinolas will be squaring off for the third time in their careers when they take on each other on Sunday in Monte Carlo. Former world number one Nadal has never been defeated by 29-year-old Ramos-Vinolas -- Nadal has two wins and zero losses against Ramos-Vinolas.
Their two previous encounters came at the Barcelona Open in 2013 and 2014. It remains to be seen can Ramos-Vinolas came up and make a splash in the biggest match of his career.
The 10th title, or the first one?
Rafa Nadal is a nine-time Monte Carlo Masters champion, which makes him the most successful player at the tournament in the Open era.
Spain's Nadal has yet to make it all the way at an ATP event this season, having lost three finals at the Australian Open, Acapulco, and Miami. The 14-time Grand Slam champion would certainly love to win his 10th Monte Carlo title and the first title of the 2017 tennis season. On the other side, Ramos-Vinolas has captured one ATP title so far in his career -- in Bastad last year.
