SPORTS

Nadal outpowers Gaudio to reach Monte Carlo final

April 23, 2006 00:06 IST
Title holder Rafael Nadal stepped up a gear after losing a tight first set to move past Gaston Gaudio 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 on Saturday and reach the final of the Monte Carlo Open.

The second seed will meet world number one Roger Federer or Chilean Fernando Gonzalez in Sunday's final of the Masters Series tournament.

The battle between the last two winners of the French Open was close only for one set.

Spain's world number two Nadal, who succeeded Argentine

baseliner Gaudio as French Open champion last year, fought back from a break down in that first set.

A combative Gaudio broke his opponent again in the 11th game to serve for the set, which the Argentine took after 78 minutes.

Nadal broke Gaudio in the fourth and again in the fifth game of the second set before wrapping it up.

The muscular Spaniard stayed on top in the decisive set courtesy of his trademark, aggressive baseline play.

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

NEXT ARTICLE

NewsBusinessMoviesSportsCricketGet AheadDiscussionLabsMyPageVideosCompany Email