Friday 17 April 2015 19:55, UK
Rafael Nadal has set-up a semi-final showdown against Novak Djokovic after battling past David Ferrer at the Monte Carlo Masters.
The third seed was dragged into a third set by his fellow Spaniard, eventually closing out a 6-4 5-7 6-2 win to secure his first clay meeting of the season with Djokovic on Saturday.
Nadal defeated the Serb in their most recent clash in the French Open final, but his stamina could be tested following a gruelling encounter with Ferrer.
Both men traded booming ground strokes in the opener with Nadal bullying his way into a one-set lead, and the eight-time champion appeared to be cruising into the last four when he opened up a 3-0 lead in the second.
But Ferrer displayed his usual fighting qualites as he broke back and then forced a deciding set with some scampering returns.
He could not maintain this gritty resistance as a fired-up Nadal regained command with a break and then cleared the way for a clash against the world No 1.
