Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal moved one game closer to what would surely be a classic final at the 2012 Monte-Carlo Masters, both winning in straight sets to advance to the semifinals on Day 6 of the tournament Friday. The world’s No. 1 and No. 2 players have dropped just one set between them on their way to the semis.
2012 Monte-Carlo Masters: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal Advance To Semis, Andy Murray Upset On Day 6
Djokovic made relatively easy work of Robin Haase, despite learning of the death of his grandfather just one day before the match. He let Haase come back from down 4-1 to tie the first set, but won the second two games before taking the second set 6-2 for the match. Afterwards, Djokovic said that his experience in tennis allowed him to overcome his grief.
“Over the years, I’ve learned whenever I play tennis to kind of switch off from everything else,” Djokovic said. “You get that mindset and that ability to switch off when you dedicate a lot of time to this sport.”
Nadal had a little more difficulty against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland. He was broken in the eighth game of the first set, and fell behind 5-4 in the ninth after Wawinka served set point. Nadal won the next three games to close out the set, however, before taking the second set 6-4 for the match. Nadal improved to 8-0 all-time against Wawrinka.
Djokovic will head to the semis to face Thomas Berdych, a three-set winner over the third-seeded Andy Murray. Berdych dropped the first set 6-7(4) but went on to win the final two sets handily, 6-3, 6-2. Nadal will take on the ninth-seeded Gilles Simon, a 7-5, 6-4 winner over fellow Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
You can check out the draw and stay up to date with the latest results at the official site of the 2012 Monte-Carlo Masters.
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