Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal set up juicy semifinal clash at Monte Carlo Masters

Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer in action at the Monte Carlo Masters

Rafael Nadal beat David Ferrer 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the Monte Carlo Masters quarterfinal in a grinding match that lasted close to 3 hours. This victory sets up a Rafael Nadal-Novak Djokovic semifinal clash after Nole dismissed the US Open champion Marin Cilic 6-0, 6-3 in just over an hour.

Rafael Nadal dropped to #5 in the ATP rankings after a dismal season and is the third seed in the tournament; and in the same half of the draw as Djokovic. Rafael Nadal, the winner of record 8 consecutive titles here at Monte Carlo, will lock heads against Novak, who broke the former’s winning streak in 2013. Both have played 42 matches; Rafa leads the head-to-head 23-19 against the #1 ranked Serb.

In the other half, Tomas Berdych will be up against the Frenchman Gael Monfils, who is in inspired form. Milos Raonic's campaign was cut short by an injury as he retired to hand Berdych, who himself is a resident of Monte Carlo, a semifinal spot.

Gael Monfils, who beat Roger Federer in straight sets in the pre-quarter finals, battered the bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, christened as "Baby Fed". Tomas Berdych, a two-time semifinalist at the Mediterranean Clay Court event, will look to topple the Frenchman, known as "La Monf". Berdych leads the head-to-head against Monfils by 5-1, with the head-to-head on clay evenly tied at 1-1.