Rafael Nadal has reached his eighth consecutive Monte Carlo final after coming through in straight sets against Gilles Simon this afternoon.
The first set began on even terms with many rallies going on for extended periods to the delight of the Monaco crowd.
By the seventh game neither men had presented the other with even a break point opportunity but surprisingly it was Simon who earned two on the Nadal serve. The first was saved after an inconsistent bounce off the clay from a Nadal forehand before Simon netted his volley on the next with Nadal going on to hold serve.
This missed opportunity for Simon proved crucial as Nadal reeled off the next two games to take the first 6-3.
The Spaniard then broke early in the second and ousted out his gallant French opponent, who will be far from disappointed with his performance, 6-4 to make it through to the final.
The 25-year-old will face Novak Djokovic in tomorrow's final after the world number one came from a set down to overcome Tomas Berdych earlier today.
Pascal Lemesre
