14-time Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal has reached the Monte Carlo Masters semi-final. Nadal prevailed over Argentina's Diego Schwartzman to prolong his 2017 Monte Carlo campaign. Nadal lost eight games throughout the match against Schwartzman 6-4 6-4. Schwartzman was up by a break in both sets but couldn't hold on in the end. The Argentine had a 4-2 lead in the second set, before Nadal stormed back to win four games in a row and the match.
Nadal has yet to be defeated by world number 41 Schwartzman. Spain's Nadal now has a 3-0 head-to-record lead over Schwartzman.
In his latest win over Schwartzman, Nadal converted 6-of-8 of his break chances and saved 2-of-6 of Schwartzman's break point opportunities. The match lasted an hour and 39 minutes.
Nadal hoping to repeat last year's success
Rafa Nadal is the most successfull Monte Carlo Masters player in the Open Era ever, having won the tournament nine times so far in his career. His last title came just a year ago after defeating Frenchman Gael Monfils in the final. Prior to the Monte Carlo event in 2016, Nadal was yet to win a title in the 2016 tennis season.
Though Nadal has played some good tennis so far in this year's season, he hasn't been able to land an ATP title. Nadal has been a finalist three times in 2017 but has yet to claim a title, having lost the final in the Australian Open, Acapulco, and Miami.
He would certainly love to end that drought this week.
Not a bad campaign for Schwartzman
Diego Schwartzman should be leaving the Monte Carlo Masters in good spirits, as he achieved his career-best result in Monte Carlo, the quarter-final. The 24-year-old is currently ranked at his career-high ranking of 41st place on the ATP Rankings list.
Nadal won't be facing Novak Djokovic
Rafa Nadal is set to square off against David Goffin in the Monte Carlo Masters semi-final on Saturday. Goffin outclassed world number two Djokovic in the quarter-final to progress at the tournament. Nadal and Goffin have never played against each other before at the ATP level and Saturday's clash will mark their first-ever meeting.
The two played against each other in an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi this past January when Nadal handed a loss to Goffin. Will Nadal win his 10th title, or, will Goffin come closer to winning his first-ever Masters 1000 title?
