Two identical results (7-5 6-4) to decide who is going to play the second semifinal.
RAFA
Still a bit conscious in his movements (and he is right given the dodgy state of the courts in Monte-Carlo), Rafa had a difficult match with Stanislas.
The King of Clay squandered a break in the first set when he played a floppy service game when leading 4-3. Then the Spaniard managed to win another decisive break in the 11th game to clinch the opener 7-5. Then Rafa kept the momentum to break again Wawrinka in the first game of the second set to win it 6-4.
“Yesterday and today I improved the level,” said Nadal. “Today was a difficult match. I had before the match big respect for this afternoon. He arrived for the match playing I think great. [He had a] fantastic victory yesterday, 6-3, 6-3 [against Almagro]. I am happy about the way that I played. I’m in the semi-finals. That’s a fantastic news for me. Just looking forward to playing a good match tomorrow.”
It’s the 40th straight victory in Monte-Carlo… not bad!
GILLES
He came out a bit from nowhere. In that part of the draw you would have expected other players to reach the semis. But chapeau to Gilles that defeated 2 top ten players back-to-back in his path to the last 4 (Tipsarevic and now Tsonga).
Simon had a wonderful start of the match to get an early double break advantage in the first set. Then Jo had a nice comeback to recover both breaks. Gilles regrouped to win the 3rd decisive break in the eleven game.
In the second set Simon was 1-4 down to win 5 straight games and get the match 7-5 6-4 in 1h and 32minutes.
“There were many breaks in the match, or I should say break opportunities,” said Simon. “When I was able to find my own rhythm, and when the sun had gone, then I started feeling a lot better and I was able to move well, hit the ball well. Before that, it was two games yes, two games not.”
Talking about the semifinal against Nadal “I will try to enjoy my match tomorrow,” said Simon. “Of course, it’s going to be a very tough match. I want to take advantage as much as I can of this match. I beat him once, and it was an accomplishment already. So it would be an accomplishment any time I’d do it, but even more here on clay. Even if I lose, I want to play that match the best I can.”
“I believe I had a good week overall,” commented Tsonga. “Maybe today I could have done a bit better. There are still two or three things I have to work on. I have to improve physically in order to add extra strength to my game, like hitting harder, playing heavier balls and, generally speaking, being better.”
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