TENNIS Live

Monte Carlo Masters - Semi-finals - Men

Nationality Player Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5
SpainR Nadal67---
United KingdomA Murray26---

87 comments - Leave a comment

Rafael Nadal

Nationality ESP
Date of Birth 03/06/1986
Height 1.85 m
Weight 85 kg

Andrew Murray

Nationality GBR
Date of Birth 15/05/1987
Height 1.91 m
Weight 84 kg
 

Live Comments

  1. 17:57 - Right so, it's been an exciting day of tennis and it should only get better tomorrow with the final being contested between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, arguably the two best clay court players in the world. So join us tomorrow for LIVE comments and scoring

  2. 7-6 - THERE IT IS! NADAL IS THROUGH TO YET ANOTHER CLAY COURT FINAL as he fires down a forehand winner and he still hasn't dropped in Monte Carlo since 2006

  3. 6-4 - Nadal earns himself another two match points, playing defensive shots the whole way through the rally before suddenly turning it to attack with a whipped forehand across court that lands right on the sideline ...

  4. 5-4 - Murray produces a great return of serve followed by a scintilating inside out cross court forehand that lands smack on the sideline to keep him in this second set breaker

  5. 4-2 - Murray quickly goes 3-0 down in the breaker before battling back on serve but a forehand long from the Scot gifts Nadal the mini-break back at the change of ends

  6. 6-6 - In short, yes he can! It will be tie-break time, folks. Murray holds to 30 with a forehand smash and he could be the first person to take a set of Nadal at Monte Carlo since the 2006 final

  7. 6-5 - Nadal holds to 15 with a solid overhead smash and Murray will need to serve to stay in it for a third time. Can he force the second set tie-break?

  8. 5-5 - Murray gets lucky on a netcord on his way to another service hold that sees him level up on games with the Spaniard

  9. 5-4 - And this time MURRAY DOES GET THE BREAK working Nadal all around the baseline before racing up to a short ball and putting the resulting high forehand away for a winner. He will still serve to stay in the match though

  10. 40-Ad - Nadal catches Nadal napping ni the centre of the baseline and hits out wide. Nadal just about gets there but the ball goes into the net and Murray has a third chance to break ...

  11. 40-40 - Murray produces a stunning, angled forehand drop shot that stops Nadal in his tracks and levels the scores once again at deuce

  12. Ad-40 - But again the chance goes begging as, in a desperate attempt to keep the ball on Nadal's backhand, Murray hits wide ... and Nadal earns himself a match point when Murray again hits long attempting to stick on the Spaniard's backhand

  13. 40-Ad - Murray continues to go for it and earns himself a second break point ...

  14. 40-40 - Nadal leaps on a shorter return of serve from Murray though and whips a forehand across court for the winner

  15. 30-40 - Murray earns himself a break point when Nadal makes a trip into the net and sends his forehand volley just wide ...

  16. 5-3 - Murray shows some signs of resistance, holding to 30 when Nadal hits a rare forehand into the net but the world number one will serve for the match now

  17. 5-2 - Murray tries to create some pressure on the Nadal serve and does push the Spaniard to deuce but he can get no further than that and Nadal now is just one game away from the final

  18. 4-2 - Murray does just manage to hold for another game when Nadal hits long but the Scot is having to work so hard for every point he gets

  19. 4-1 - Nadal dismisses Murray in yet another service game cruising through to cement the break and surely that is it now

  20. 3-1 - Nadal earns himself another break point ... Murray comes up with a great first serve that the Spaniard can only return long but he quickly sets up another opportunity and this time NADAL GETS THE BREAK when Murray hits long

  21. 2-1 - Nadal holds from 15-30 down to maintain his lead despite throwing in his first double fault of the match

  22. 1-1 - A very important hold for Murray, also to love, to get himself off the mark in this second set

  23. 1-0 - A love game to start the second set from Nadal and Murray just doesn't look like he has anything to hurt the Spaniard with

  24. 6-2 - There it is - NADAL HAS CRUISED THROUGH THE FIRST SET 6-2 as Murray hits a forehand long of the baseline and the Spaniard is on his way to yet another final on the clay

  25. 40-30 - Murray tries to go back behind Nadal but fails to find the court and the Spaniard has a first set point ...

  26. 5-2 - Another game goes the way of Nadal, off a forehand winner, and Murray will have to serve to stay in this first set now

  27. 4-2 - Murray goes on to hold with another couple of battling points when Nadal hits long but it is still a long way back for the Scot

  28. 40-40 - The Scot also saves the third when Nadal hits a rare forehand just long. We are level at deuce

  29. 40-30 - Murray saves both the first and second by coming into the net and demonstrating soft hands to produce the volley winners ...

  30. 40-0 - Great anticipation from Nadal allows him to whip a dipping, forehand passing shot across court to bring up another three break points ...

  31. 4-1 - Nadal holds to love to cement the break when another of Murray's return of serves files long and the Spaniard is firmly in control of this opening set

  32. 3-1 - Nadal breaks for a third straight time - Murray is winning just 33 per cent of points behind his first serve at the moment and that simply will not be good enough

  33. 2-1 - Murray sets up a break back point immediately when Nadal plays a shocker of a smash that lands well long ... and MURRAY DOES BREAK BACK to get on the scoreboard. The high, looping forehands are obviously going to be a tactic from Murray today and so far they appear to be working as Nadal hits long off one to concede the break back

  34. 2-0 - Nadal earns another break point though as Murray hits long and this time NADAL DOES GET THE BREAK when the Scot again hits long. Murray keeps looking down at his knee and holding it. Whether or not that's simply stiffness after playing two matches yesterday or something more serious remains to be seen. Hopefully the former - this could be a cracking match if Murray plays his best

  35. 40-40 - An great start from Murray, outhitting Nadal from the back of the court, but it doesn't last long and the Spaniard earns a break point when Murray is caught by surprise whilst trying to cover a forehand volley and hits wide ... a first serve does wonders from Murray who levels at deuce

  36. 1-0 - Murray comes off on top after a lengthy rally on just the fourth point but Nadal has enough class on the clay to withstand a spot of pressure and holds to 30 to open the match

  37. 0-0 - So Nadal will get the clash underway ...

  38. 15:26 - So this is to decide who faces Novak Djokovic in tomorrow's final. Nadal is the four-times defending champion while Murray, undoubtedly improved on this surface, really has little to lose and everything to gain in this match.

  39. 15:25 - Hello and welcome to eurosport.com's LIVE coverage of this the second Monte Carlo Masters semi-final between world number one Rafael Nadal and world number four Andy Murray

ATP Standing 2009

Points
1 Roger Federer 10055 stay
2 Rafael Nadal 8845 stay
3 Novak Djokovic 7890 stay
4 Andrew Murray 6640 stay
5 Juan Martin Del Potro 6060 stay
6 Andy Roddick 4500 stay
7 Nikolay Davydenko 4340 stay
8 Fernando Verdasco 3225 stay
9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 2985 stay
10 Robin Soderling 2935 stay

Full Table »

Comment 68 - 87 of 87

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  1. it's a matter of ''SPORT''.may the­ best PLAYER WIN.THEY'RE TRYING THIER VERY­ BEST,,,sad to say only one name the­ ''winner''.GOD bless all of them

    From verarose, on Sat 18 Apr 10:50PM

  2. What an exciting fight back. Andy's serve let him­ down. Only about 50% of first serves in and he usually­ gets a high percentage of winners from his first serve.­ Had his serve stood up, I am not saying he would have­ won, but I think the first set result might have been­ different and we might have had a three setter. Andy­ now going to Barcelona for more practice on Clay. I­ think he might be better in Rome. I am sure Rafa will­ win tomorrow. Good luck to him and be patient Andy,­ you will surely be No. 3 in the world soon

    From gudamendi, on Sat 18 Apr 9:30PM

  3. sanchez.santos, yuo are a stupid idiot. krelac tj­ lajavi

    From zwami11, on Sat 18 Apr 9:14PM

  4. NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­ OOOO I like both of them but I wanted Andy to win­ because I am British and wanted Murray to get a shot at­ the title but good luck against Novak Djokovic tommorow­ Rafa.

    From Joe, on Sat 18 Apr 7:54PM

  5. rafaaaaaaaaa, you are the best

    From shayesteh, on Sat 18 Apr 7:45PM

  6. go andy go scotland rules

    From margaretmaclean301, on Sat 18 Apr 7:19PM

  7. just face it guys, Rafa ist going to be on top for a­ long time! But having such talented and exciting Nos.­ 2, 3 and 4 we are in for a great time of superb tennis!­ Long live the game! Hanna43

    From hsinghmal, on Sat 18 Apr 6:25PM

  8. Now the race is won and my dreams are put to bed it was­ a great ending to the second set and for a fleeting­ moment I thought a three setter was in the offing, but­ it was not to be, well played Rafa, see you next time.­ Ps he's getting closer.

    From Ronsenglish, on Sat 18 Apr 6:19PM

  9. Unfortunately mr write, he can't take a set off­ nadal, instead of writting on how he can fight to beat­ nadal you're writing of, murray could be the first­ player to take a set off nadal, what a shame and you­ guy's are bringing murray down, i hope he­ doesn't read your commentary.

    From monday, on Sat 18 Apr 6:14PM

  10. Nadal VS Djokovic. Best clay-court players in the­ world. Great match is expected tomorrow.

    From ((())), on Sat 18 Apr 6:11PM

  11. A great win for Rafa the second set was a classic with­ both players showing their class. Andy Murray proved­ himself a worthy opponent after an inept first set. His­ fighting do or die spirit was second to none. Watch out­ next time Rafa, he's getting better and better.­
    Raffa you're a gent it's a shame the same­ can't be said of your supporters such as Allshit.

    From Ronsenglish, on Sat 18 Apr 6:06PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Blah blah Nadal Blah Nadal blah blah blah Nadal. Enough­ already. Then again, if Murray keeps playing well there­ will be BLAH BLAH Murray BLAH Murray... Can't tell­ which is worse.

    From Denis P, on Sat 18 Apr 6:03PM

  13. and no! I don't expect tomorrow's match to be­ better and I don't think Novak is a better­ claycourt player than Federer (Fed is the one who­ reached so many RG finals and lost to the King of Clay)

    From Bali, Maha, on Sat 18 Apr 6:02PM

  14. This match killed me - Murray is definitely Nadal's­ biggest threat and he plays SO SO well against him. I­ am worried that Murray will be for Nadal as Nadal has­ been for Federer. But well done to Nadal for finally­ holding on. I don't think he would have made it if­ Murray had started out playing that well, though...

    From Bali, Maha, on Sat 18 Apr 6:01PM

  15. Yes, baby, you did it! Fabulous, great and talented­ Nadal did it again! Good luck tomorrow! Hanna 43

    From hsinghmal, on Sat 18 Apr 5:55PM

  16. Well done Murry!!!!!!!!!!!!!! good play....

    From Aaliya, on Sat 18 Apr 5:52PM

  17. ANDY OWNED

    From WAELH, on Sat 18 Apr 5:51PM

  18. BOO HISS!

    From Fiona, on Sat 18 Apr 5:51PM

  19. Fantastic second set :-) Congratulations to Nadal, but­ also BRAVO for Murray :-)

    From Igor K, on Sat 18 Apr 5:50PM

  20. Congrats to Rafa!

    From boki, on Sat 18 Apr 5:49PM
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