![\"Rafael](\"http:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Rafael-Nadal-200x300.jpg\")
Sports desk: Rafael Nadal beat David Goffin 6-3, 6-1 on Saturday in a controversial semi-final at the Monte Carlo Masters to put himself on the brink of a 10th title at the clay court showpiece.<\/p>\nSports desk: Rafael Nadal beat David Goffin 6-3, 6-1 on Saturday in a controversial semi-final at the Monte Carlo Masters to put himself on the brink of a 10th title at the clay court showpiece.<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old defending champion will face Spanish compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas, who defeated Lucas Pouille 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, in Sunday's final.<\/p>\n
Nadal is also chasing his first ATP title since last April in Barcelona and the 70th of his career.<\/p>\n
“It's tough to believe that I am again in a final here, it is unbelievable news for me,” Nadal said. “It's another great event.<\/p>\n
“I'm be able to start the clay court season playing a final in one of the most important events of the year. Personally, it's a very special place for me. It's something that makes me feel very happy. Very excited about it.”<\/p>\n
Nadal has beaten 29-year-old Ramos-Vinolas in their two previous clashes, both times on clay in Barcelona.<\/p>\n
“He's playing better than ever, he's winning huge matches during the whole week,” said Nadal of his next opponent.<\/p>\n
“He's playing with big confidence, with great spirit of fight, overcoming tough situations in every match, and playing a high level of tennis all the time.<\/p>\n
“I know that I need to be at my best to keep having chances, to fight for another title here. That's what I am looking for.”<\/p>\n
However, Saturday's semi-final turned on a controversial incident in the first set, when the chair umpire may have missed a ball mark and ended up awarding Nadal a point which denied Goffin a 4-2 lead in the opener.<\/p>\n
The crowd turning against him, Nadal was the subject of whistles and jeers while the heart went out of Goffin who had made the semi-finals by seeing off world number two Novak Djokovic on Friday.<\/p>\n
“When the umpire goes down and says the ball is good, what I can say? No, the ball is out?” Nadal said. “That's why there is an umpire there.<\/p>\n
“If the ball is on my side, I see the ball is in, I give the ball to the other side? This (booing) for me is sometimes sad, especially in a place that I had a lot of success, in a place that I love. Sometimes that happens.”<\/p>\n
Ramos-Vinolas, the 15th seed who had knocked out number one Andy Murray and Marin Cilic, had never before even reached a Masters 1000 semi-final.<\/p>\n
“To play Rafa, you never know. If he plays unbelievable, he's going to beat you,” Ramos-Vinolas said.<\/p>\n
“I have more confidence. It's impossible to negate that. Since Roland Garros (2016) maybe, I'm playing better. In South America (February) I did a final, two semi-finals, one quarter-final.<\/p>\n
“The results are going better.”<\/p>\n
The Spaniard, who saved seven of nine break points, had come to the principality with only three previous victories from 29 matches against top 10 opponents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sports desk: Rafael Nadal beat David Goffin 6-3, 6-1 on Saturday in a controversial semi-final at the Monte Carlo Masters to put himself on the brink of a 10th title at the clay court showpiece. The 30-year-old defending champion will face Spanish compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas, who defeated Lucas Pouille 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, in Sunday’s final. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":32644,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n