World number one Rafael Nadal will square off against Serbia's Novak Djokovic to bid for a record fifth consecutive title at the Monte Carlo Masters. Nadal held off a late challenge from Briton Andy Murray to win 6-2, 7-6 in the semifinals on Saturday while world number three Djokovic came back to beat Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Rafael Nadal of Spain serves to Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia during the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament in Monaco April 17, 2009
Nadal, who has not dropped a set in Monte Carlo since the 2006 final against Roger Federer, pushed the fourth-seeded Murray far behind the baseline and took the first set with ease. Trailing at 5-3 in the second, U.S. Open finalist Murray broke Nadal in the ninth game before he forced a tiebreak.
But Nadal proved too strong an opponent and took the tiebreak 7-4 to finish the two-hour match.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return against Oscar Hernandez of Spain during the Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament in Monaco April 14, 2009
Earlier, Djokovic had to battle back against 13th seed Wawrinka, who had upset fellow Swiss and three times Monte Carlo finalist Roger Federer in the third round. Djokovic failed to make the better start before he started to mount more pressure on Wawrinka in the second set, opening up a 5-0 lead.
Djokovic again fell behind in the decider as Wawrinka broke to go 2-0 up but the 2008 Australian Open champion then started to dictate play from the baseline until he sealed the win