It’s just two rounds to go before we get to know who the winner of the 2016 Monte Carlo Masters is. Will the trophy return to its eight-time owner, Rafael Nadal or will Andy Murray have a say in it? On the other hand, who between Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils will be the first Frenchman to advance to the summit clash since Cedric Pioline won in 2000?
Here we take a look at the first semi-final which is the highly-anticipated Nadal vs Murray clash:
The 6-16 head-to-head record that Andy Murray has against the 14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal is not encouraging at all especially if one has to face the King of Clay on his favourite surface. The second-seeded Scot has been pretty inconsistent at this tournament and was even two points away from defeat against the 16th seed Benoit Paire in the Round of 16.
But the World No. 2 might be returning to form just in time for the Rafa encounter as evidenced by his performance against the 10th seed Milos Raonic in the quarter-finals on Friday. He dropped just 2 games and hardly broke a sweat in playing his best match in a while.
That’s surely the most confidence-boosting preparation that he could have asked for ahead of the semis. Murray can also draw some inspiration from his mightily aggressive display against Rafa at the 2015 Madrid Masters final which the Spaniard had no answer to.
Unfortunately for him, the former World No. 1 too seems to have got back his mojo and the control on his forehands as shown in his ruthless 6-1, 6-4 dismissal of the reigning French Open champion Stan Wawrinka. Rafa is still very much a work in progress who is looking to improve day by day. But if the way he moved and constructed points against the Swiss is anything to go by, he is not far from his vintage best.
After all his struggles for nearly a year and a half, the claycourts of Monte Carlo might just have re-ignited the spark that he was desperately looking for. Andy will keep pressing but this is an all too familiar terrain for the 29-year-old and he would like to grab this opportunity with both hands.
Monte Carlo Masters Semi Final: Rafael Nadal vs Andy Murray Match Details
TV Channel: Ten 1
Match date: 16 April 2016, Saturday
Match time: 4.30 pm IST
Match Venue: Monte Carlo Country Club
Live streaming: http://www.tensports.com/tennis
Key Stats
- They have faced each other 22 times in ATP history.
- Nadal has won 16 out of the 22 matches between them.
Murray has won the other six.
What is the foot injury that has troubled Rafael Nadal over the years? Check here
