Brutal Nadal overpowers Monfils
Rafael Nadal on course for semi-final clash with Andy Murray
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Thursday, 30, Oct 2008 10:14
World number one Rafael Nadal has reached the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters with a 6-3 6-2 win over home favourite Gael Monfils.
Monfils had an opening at 2-2 in the first set when he got to 0-30 on the Nadal serve. The world number one fought back to hold it serve and it proved a decisive moment in the first serve as he went on to break Monfils in the next game. The Frenchman played a couple of wayward shots and in truth gifted the break.
The next two games went with serve as Nadal led 5-3 and came out to serve for the opening set. However, three consecutive unforced errors from Nadal gave Monfils a 0-40 lead. Nadal managed to come back to 30-40, but the Frenchman blew a golden chance to get the break back as he hit a simple attempt at a winner straight at Nadal, who then volleyed the ball for the point. The Spaniard went on to take the set.
Monfils started the second set well, hitting a couple of blistering forehand winners to comfortably hold on to his opening service game. The 22-year-old then earned a break point chance on the Nadal serve, but he was once again guilty of some wayward shots as he failed to convert and Nadal held on to his serve.
Just like the first set, Monfils was made to pay for not taking his chances as a double fault and a poor attempt at a forehand winner from the Frenchman gave Nadal the crucial break.
Monfils continued to create chances on the Nadal swerve, but was again unable to break the Spaniard's serve. Monfils was unable to take five break point opportunities when he was 2-1 down as Nadal went on take a 3-1 lead.
The world number one showed his ruthlessness as he broke Monfils in the next game and then cruised to take the second set 6-2. Nadal will now face Nikolay Davydenko in the next round.