By Chris Oddo | Friday, April 17, 2015

 

Rafael Nadal resisted a stern test from David Ferrer to reach the Monte-Carlo semifinals on Friday.

Photo Source: Julian Finney/Getty

Rafael Nadal may have to find a new issue, because the confidence that he claimed was the root of his troubles in Miami is coming back after back-to-back three-set battles that have seen him emerge victorious in Monte-Carlo.

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On quarterfinal Friday at this prestigious clay-court event Nadal weathered the surly storm of Spaniard David Ferrer, rebounding after dropping the final four games of the second set to come through in a decider, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

The victory sets up the 43rd meeting of Novak Djokovic and Nadal in Saturday’s semifinals. It will be the fourth time the pair have met in Monte-Carlo, with Nadal claiming two of three but losing the 2013 final that saw his 46-match winning streak and run of eight titles go up in smoke.

Win or lose on Saturday, Nadal may have found what he was looking for in the Principality. He publicly announced that he was lacking in confidence and unable to play big moments in big matches with calm after falling to Milos Raonic in three sets at Indian Wells and then again to Fernando Verdasco in Miami.

“One of the tougher things have been fixed, that is the game, in my opinion,” Nadal said in Miami. “Now I need to fix again the nerves, the self control on court. That's another issue.”

After Friday it looks like Nadal’s game and mentality are once again in sync.

It appeared that Nadal would waltz to victory when he jumped out to a 6-4, 3-0 lead in set two. But the always indefatigable Ferrer dialed up his game a notch in the second set, staying in touch with a few holds to stop the bleeding, before pouncing like a drooling dog on a plate of raw meat to take the final four games of the set to force a decider.

If there ever was a time for Nadal to question himself this was it. But he did not. Instead the eight-time Monte-Carlo champion raised his level and notched a quick break in the decider. Though tested immensely by Ferrer in his next few service games, he held fast, even saving a break point while leading 3-2 before notching the critical double break in the next game.

Nadal would close the match on his first match point, finishing the two hour and 44-minute battle to earn his 23rd career victory over Ferrer in 29 matches. Since dropping the quarterfinal to Ferrer at Monte-Carlo last year, Nadal has taken two straight from his compatriot and friend.

Nadal improved to a remarkable 55-11 in Masters 1000 quarterfinals with the win, and 10-1 in Monte-Carlo quarterfinals. He is 53-3 lifetime in the principality, but has not won the title in Monte-Carlo since 2012.

On Saturday, Nadal’s game will be tested even more by world No. 1 Djokovic, who has won 15 consecutive matches. Nadal owns a 23-19 lifetime edge against the Serb, including 14-4 on clay, but they have split their last four meetings on the surface and Djokovic has gone 4-5 against Nadal since the beginning of 2011 after dropping their first nine meetings on clay.