Rafael Nadal outplays Gilles Simon to reach title match – Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters 2012
Second seed, Rafael Nadal, came one step closer to capturing his eighth straight title at the Monte Carlo Country Club, as he downed world number 15, Gilles Simon of France, in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-final at the Monte-Carlo
Rolex Masters in Monaco on Saturday.
The Spaniard needed an hour and 50 minutes to complete this win over Simon.
Nadal and Simon started the match steadily, as they held their serve in the first seven games of the opening set to take the score to 4-3 in favour of the Spaniard. Nadal snatched a break for 5-3 lead and consolidated on it to
triumph 6-3.
The Spaniard fired a couple of aces and 57 percent of the first deliveries in the opener, claiming 12 of the 16 points on them. The left-hander did a good job on the second deliveries and returns, as he grabbed nine of the 12 and
four of the seven points on them respectively.
Nadal managed to get an early breakthrough in the second set, as he struck in the third game and won his next serve to take a 3-1 lead. The Spaniard maintained his advantage till the end, sealing it 6-4.
The 25-year-old, Nadal, banged in one ace and the same number of double fault. He kept his first serve percentage at 57, converting 15 of the 21 of them into points. The Spaniard succeeded in putting away all the five break threats
he came across and capitalised on one of the four opportunities he created in the second set.
Commenting on Simon during the post match press conference, Nadal said, "It is always difficult to play against Gilles. He is always smart on the court and he knows how to play tennis. I'm very happy. It was a very difficult victory
for me. So it's fantastic being in another final."
The seven-time defending champion will face top seed, Novak Djokovic of Serbia, in the final.
Nadal said, as he talked about his match against Djokovic, "My feeling is I have much less to lose than him. I have everything to win. That's the most important thing. That's the only positive thing about losing seven times. The
next matches, you only have to win. You go to the match knowing that the normal thing is lose but trying the best to change situation. That's what I'm going to try."
The Spaniard has lost his last seven meetings against Djokovic, all being title matches.
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