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By Chris Oddo | Saturday April 22, 2017

Rafael Nadal reached the Monte-Carlo title match for the 11th time with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over David Goffin on Saturday, setting a final clash with compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas.

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Ramos-Vinolas, a Roland Garros quarterfinalist last season, eased past Frenchman Lucas Pouille to reach his first career Masters 1000 final. Earlier this week he rallied from 4-0 down in the third set to earn a victory over World No.1 Andy Murray.

Nadal’s victory was not without controversy. In the sixth game of the opening set the nine-time champion was awarded a point that would have given Goffin a difficult game and a 4-2 lead. When his ball was called long, the Spaniard went for the towel, assuming that the shot was out and that the game was over, but umpire Cedric Mourier came out of his chair and overruled the call, circling a mark on the baseline.

Goffin protested vehemently, and replays later showed that Mourier was wrong, but the call stood and Nadal broke serve to level at three-all.


“When the umpires goes down and says the ball is good, what can I say?” Nadal said. “‘No the ball is out?’”

Clearly it had a profound effect on Goffin. He would win just one of the final ten games and never really threaten again in the match.



Nadal’s victory improves his record at Monte-Carlo to 62-4. He will bid for record 10th title on Sunday against Ramos-Vinolas. He will also attempt to move past Guillermo Vilas and into first place on the all-time clay-court title list with 50.

Nadal won 12 of 14 second-serve points on the day and saved three of four break points. In the final set he only dropped two points on serve and won 14 of 25 return points.

Nadal leads Ramos-Vinolas 2-0 in their lifetime head-to-head, with both wins coming in straight sets on clay (Barcelona, 2013 and 2014).


 

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