ThrowbackTimes Monte Carlo: Rafael Nadal sinks David Ferrer to reach final

• Tennis News
• Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal returned to Monte Carlo in 2010 as the five-time champion and the biggest favorite for another crown in the Principality, suffering no defeats at the season's first clay Masters 1000 event since 2003! Nadal made the best start at one of his beloved tournaments, toppling Thiemo de Bakker, Michael Berrer and Juan Carlos Ferrero after dropping only eight games in six sets - six of those against Ferrer - to arrange the semi-final clash with the fellow Spaniard David Ferrer.

It was the 13th meeting between two fine clay-courters, with Rafa earning the tenth triumph following a one-sided 6-2, 6-3 victory in an hour and 15 minutes, advancing to the sixth straight Monte Carlo final. Nadal lost serve twice, but that was hardly an obstacle for him after a dominant display on the return, taking 54% of the points in Ferrer's games and earning six breaks that pushed him over the finish line in no time.

David somehow stayed in touch in the shortest rallies, and Rafa forged his win in the most extended ones, controlling the exchanges' pace and reducing his opponent to under ten winners and over 25 unforced errors. Ferrer made a strong start, holding at love with a service winner in the first game and creating a break chance in the next one, denied by a service winner from Nadal, who held with another to level the score at 1-1.

Rafa broke at 15 in the third game following David's weak drop shot, forcing his rival's error a few minutes later to confirm the lead and move 3-1 in front.

Rafael Nadal ousted Davis Ferrer to reach Monte Carlo final in 2010.

Losing ground in those moments, Ferrer sprayed a backhand error to suffer another break and fall 4-1 down, wasting his chances on the return in the next one and allowing Rafa to hold with a lob winner.

Serving for the set at 5-2, Nadal fired three service winners to close the opener in style in 35 minutes, hoping for more of the same in set number two. The younger Spaniard grabbed a break at 1-1 following a terrible forehand from Ferrer, who pulled the break back with a much better forehand to level the score at 2-2.

Maintaining his composure, Rafa landed a forehand down the line winner to secure another break and get back in front, firing four winners on serve to forge a 4-2 gap. Ferrer hit a double fault to give serve away and allow Nadal to serve for the victory at 5-2.

Not ready to surrender, David pulled one break back to extend the clash before Rafa claimed another return game to move over the top and book the place in the final.