Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov flirted with a massive upset before Rafael Nadal managed to restore normal service as the Spaniard earned a tight 6-2 2-6 6-4 win in the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters on Friday.
Nadal, bidding for an unprecedented ninth straight trophy at an event which he has dominated, was given a huge fright by Dimitrov, who fell victim to leg cramp in the closing moments of a thriller lasting just over two hours.
One of the closest calls of Nadal’s clay career ended as the Spaniard won his 45th straight Monte Carlo match. He lost a set at the event for only the third time since 2009.
Nadal admitted that he did not play at his best: “I didn’t play tennis for seven months,” said the recent knee injury victim. “I’m losing little bit intensity of the match for moments.
“That’s normal after being a lot of time outside of the competition. I played for a month, then I stopped for another month. I need time to play with top rhythm all the match.”
Dimitrov, feeling his left thigh, managed to save a Nadal match point with a rifling winner down the line which left him doubled over in pain.
A few moments later, Nadal fired over his second ace of a dramatic afternoon to take the win.
Nadal, whose only loss here came back in 2003, produced some 36 unforced errors while the 34th-ranked Dimitrov struck 28 winners.
“It’s a tough loss, I think I gave everything I had today,” said Dimitrov. “Today he obviously showed why he’s the best not only on that surface, I believe, but he’s one of the best out there.”
Third seed Nadal will now have to prepare for a semi-final against confident Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who earlier advanced against Stanislas Wawrinka 2-6 6-3 6-4.
Wawrinka, the 13th seed, saved four match points — three on his own serve in the penultimate game — before Tsonga bulldozed to victory in just over two hours.
“It’s an incredible challenge, he’s won eight times here. Anything I might achieve will be just a bonus for me,” said Tsonga.
Tsonga is the last French player still in contention, with seventh seed and 2005 semi-finalist Richard Gasquet bowing out against Italian Fabio Fognini, who advanced 7-6 (7-0) 6-2.
