Nadal to Face Murray in Madrid Masters Semi-Final
Novak Djokovic also remained on course for his 5th title of the season by making it to the semi final.
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Rafael Nadal will face defending champion Andy Murray in the Madrid Masters semi-finals after extending his perfect start to the European clay-court season to 13 matches with a 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 win over Joao Sousa.
Murray on the other side continued his serene passage into the last four by sweeping past eighth seed Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-2.
World number one Novak Djokovic also eased into the semi-finals with a 6-3 6-4 over 11th seed Milos Raonic.
Nadal is looking to break Argentine legend Guillermo Vilas’s record for clay-court tournament wins with his 50th and a fifth title in Madrid this weekend. However, to do so he will have to avenge Murray’s only ever victory over the 14-time Grand Slam champion on clay in last year’s Madrid final.
Nadal beat Murray on route to winning in Monte Carlo last month, but the Scot believes more rain on Saturday could help him.
Meanwhile, Djokovic remained on course for his fifth title of the season by extending his unbeaten record over Raonic to seven matches.
The Serb created regular opportunities to break despite the Canadian’s booming serve, but needed just one break in each set to set up a semi-final meeting with Kei Nishikori.
(With inputs from AP.)
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