Rafael Nadal remains on course for a record seventh French Open title
after he dismissed the challenge of fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro to
notch up his 50th Roland Garros victory.
The world No.2 triumphed
7-6 6-2 6-3 over the 12th seed as he goes in search of the 11th grand
slam title in his illustrious career.
Standing between Nadal
and a seventh Paris final is another Spaniard, David Ferrer, after the
No. 6 seed beat Britain's Andy Murray 6-4 6-7 6-3 6-2.
The former world No. 1
has lost only once at the French Open since making his debut as an
18-year-old in 2005. He is yet to lose a set in this year's tournament.
"It was a tough one, but I
am through and I am very happy," Nadal told the ATP Tour's official
website. "You cannot expect to win an easy match in the quarterfinals of
a grand slam.
On his semi-final against
Ferrer, Nadal added: "We played each other a lot of times. His game
bothers everybody because he's one of the best players in the world on
every surface -- on clay especially.
"He's a complete player.
It's very difficult to play against him, because his movement is
probably the best in the world and he's able to hit the ball very early a
lot of the time."
Should Nadal secure his
seventh title he will go one better than legendary Swede Bjorn Borg, who
has six. He will also match Bjorg's record of 11 career grand slam
titles.
Murray, who said he was
satisfied with his performance in the tournament despite going out to a
player seeded two places below him, said Nadal is the favorite to win.
He told reporters: "I
think the four best clay court players in the world are left in and
whoever plays best will win. Probably have to favor Rafa slightly, but
everyone is playing very, very well."
Ferrer's victory ensured
he made the final four of the French Open for the first time in his
career, a surprise statistic for someone who is renowned as a clay court
specialist.
He said his four-set win
over Murray was grueling, but good preparation for his showdown with
Nadal, who he labeled the best player on clay ever.
"Tonight's match was
very hard, physically very difficult," he said. "But I am happy to be in
the semifinals at Roland Garros for the first time.
"It will be a tough match against Rafa, he's the best in history on this surface, but I hope to have a good match."
Murray's disappointment
was evident on court, as he made 59 unforced errors during the match and
seemed to be troubled by a series of injuries.
"He had his chances and
converted them," he said of Ferrer. "He's solid and consistent and if
you don't convert opportunities against him, the games become longer and
the pressure builds on you.
"But it was a good
tournament for me. I felt better coming in this year than I did last
year. I lost to a better clay court player tonight. There are things to
work on but I knew it would be a tough match."
Thursday sees the first semifinal, between world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and 16-time grand slam champion Roger Federer, take place.
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