AFP, Paris :
Eight-time champion Rafael Nadal defeated compatriot David Ferrer as well as the Paris gloom on Wednesday to reach his ninth French Open semi-final where he will face Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.
The world number one recovered from dropping his first set of the tournament to record a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, 6-1 win while seventh-seeded Murray defeated home hope Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 1-6, 6-0.
Murray lost to Nadal in the Roland Garros semi-finals three years ago and has never beaten him on clay. However, he did take a set off the top seed in Rome last month.
Wednesday’s win took the 28-year-old Nadal’s record in Paris to 64 victories and just one loss and extended his mastery over his 32-year- old Spanish Davis Cup teammate to 22 victories against just six defeats. He did it in some style, reeling off 13 of the last 14 games before the sun set.
“When you play David on any surface, it’s always tough and he’s having a great season,” said Nadal of a man who beat him in Monte Carlo in April, one of three losses the top seed suffered on European clay this spring in a 10-year low.
