At the Rolex Masters in Monte Carlo, Rafael Nadal reached the semi-finals with an impressive game against Dominic Thiem.
The start of the match between the two clay court specialists was suboptimal for Thiem. After only a few minutes the Lichtenwörther was trailing with a break and 0:3. Nadal was focused and took advantage of his opportunities.
In the fourth game of the first set, the 24-year-old Austrian was again in predicament and quickly faced two break points. Nevertheless, it was about Einstand and Thiem revealed the obvious weakness of the initial phase: lack of precision on serve. In the end it was a slight forehand mistake at breakpoint number six, which cost Thiem another service loss and made a 4-0 for Nadal appear on the scoreboard.
Nadal, on the other hand, was at the height of his work and obviously felt comfortable on the court against a dreamlike backdrop. The backhand of the ten-time tournament winner ran smoothly, the forehand set the necessary pinpricks. After only 34 minutes, the first set went 6-0 to the “Taurus from Mannacor”, who unstoppably rolls towards title number eleven.
The second round was no better for Thiem. Again the world ranking seventh had to give up his serve, again Nadal quickly took a 3-0 lead. Again and again Thiem got into the Nadal Mill and continuously lost out.
After nine losses in a row, Thiem celebrated his first game win for the 3:1 and received encouraging applause from the spectators in the Principality. But there was nothing to fetch for Thiem on this day. Slightly improved in set two, the Lower Austrian had to admit defeat with 0:6 and 2:6.
Nadal will face Grigor Dimitrov in the semi-finals, who beat Monte Carlo double David Goffin 6-4 and 7-6 (5).