Rafael Nadal kept alive his hopes for a record-breaking fourth consecutive Masters Series Monte-Carlo title, but only after saving three consecutive set points en route to defeating fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 6-1, 7-5 Friday to advance to the semifinals. Rafa next will play Nikolay Davydenko.

Nadal withstood a blistering second-set assault by Ferrer, who showed no fear in attacking the Nadal forehand, considered by many to be the biggest weapon in men's tennis. Ferrer's tactics were clear: whenever Nadal backed away to the backhand court to open up his forehand wing, Ferrer would rifle cross-court backhands and especially off-forehands and down-the-line forehands into the Nadal's open forehand court.

But after getting himself into a winning position, he couldn't pull the trigger. Ferrer played himself into position to win the second set at 5-4 40/0, but a gritty Nadal reeled off five consecutive points to break serve and level at 5-5. Ferrer had two break points at 15/40 in the following game but couldn't convert, missing a relatively easy, floating forehand put away from midcourt at 30/40.

In contrast, Nadal seized the moment when presented with his first match point, running down a drop volley and spearing a down-the-line forehand that skimmed the net past an outstretched Ferrer to seal the match.

Nadal now boasts a 28-match winning streak against his countrymen on clay. (The last time Nadal lost to a Spaniard on clay came in the quarterfinals of Stuttgart on July 16, 2004 to Ferrer.) Since the beginning of Monte Carlo in 2005, Nadal has won 96 of 97, matches on clay with his only loss to Federer in the final of ATP Masters Series Hamburg last May.

(via montecarlo.masters-series.com)

Rafa Weathers The Storm