Nadal closes in on Monte Carlo crown

MONACO – Top-ranked Rafael Nadal stretched his winning streak at the Monte Carlo Masters to 25 matches by beating Ivan Ljubicic, 6-3, 6-3, Friday in his second match of the day, to move one step away from a fifth straight final.

After beating Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador, 6-3, 6-0, in a rain-delayed third-round match, the four-time French Open champion showed few signs of fatigue in winning his 19th straight match on clay to reach the semifinals.

“I don’t remember ever winning two singles matches in one day, only doubles,” said Nadal, who only had time to play one game on Thursday. “I didn’t have a very long match (in the morning), so I was totally 100 percent to play the second. That’s important.”

Nadal clinched the match when Ljubicic tried to end a short rally with a backhand winner which went long.

Although Nadal has not dropped a set in Monte Carlo since beating Roger Federer in four sets in the 2006 final, he said he’s still adopting to playing on his favorite surface again.

“Have to play a little bit more inside, less mistakes, serve a little bit better,” Nadal said. “I think all aspects of the game I have to improve.”

The Spaniard has won the last four Monte Carlo titles, and has gone on to capture the French Open each time. His last defeat on clay was to Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second round of the Rome Masters in May last year.

Nadal next plays fourth-seeded Andy Murray, who reached his first career semifinal on clay after beating No. 8 Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, 7-6 (1), 6-4.      

“It was a good day’s work,” Murray said. “I’m quite looking forward to getting into my bed now.”

Murray started the day by finishing his rain-suspended third-round match against Fabio Fognini of Italy, winning, 7-6 (11), 6-4. (AP)