Roger Federer- Getty Images

World’s Best to Clash in Semis

April 25, 2008

For only the second time in Masters Series history, the top four seeds in the men’s draw have reached the semis of an event.

On Friday, world No. 1 Roger Federer (Switzerland), No. 2 Rafael Nadal (Spain), No. 3 Novak Djokovic (Serbia), and No. 4 Nikolay Davydekno (Russia) each booked their ticket to the final four at the Masters Series Monte-Carlo presented by ROLEX to set up a pair of blockbuster semifinal matches on the grounds of the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Monaco.

Nadal, the three-time defending champion of the event, reached the semis with an impressive 6-1, 7-5 victory over countryman and fifth seed David Ferrer. After cruising to take the first set, he hit a bump in the road when Ferrer jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the second set. But Nadal proved he is once again the master on clay by storming back to take the match. His opponent in the next round will be Davydenko, who needed three sets to dispatch unseeded compatriot Igor Andreev. The match was close from start to finish but in the end, the veteran Davydenko was able to scrape out a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory to advance to the semis for the first time at the tournament.

The matchup marks only the fourth time the two players have met in their careers. The most recent meeting came earlier this season, when Davydenko crushed Nadal in straight sets at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. However, if their last match on clay is any indication—Nadal barely escaped with a 7-6(3), 6-7(8), 6-4 triumph—this contest is sure to be a thriller.

Saturday’s other semifinal also promises to be exciting as Federer and Djokovic will once again do battle for a spot in the championship match. Federer holds a clear 5-2 advantage in their career head-to-head meetings, but Djokovic has won two of the last three. Their only previous match on clay was at this same event in 2006 and Federer won in three sets, but that was two years ago when Djokovic was ranked well outside the top 50.

The Mighty Fed earned his spot in the final four with a come-from-behind victory over rival David Nalbandian (Argentina), the No. 6 seed, in the quarters. The Swiss superstar dropped the first set 5-7 but then rallied to easily take the next two by identical 6-2 scores. Meanwhile, Djokovic had a much easier time in his match as he crushed unseeded American Sam Querrey 6-4, 6-0 to advance.

The last time the top four seeds were left standing in a Masters Series tournament was in Cincinnati in 1999, when Pete Sampras, Patrick Rafter, Andre Agassi, and Yevgeny Kafelnikov all reached the semifinals. In doubles action, only two seeded teams remain in the hunt for the title but that doesn’t mean the matches are lacking in star power. The first semifinal features No. 4 seeds Mahesh Bhupathi (India) and Mark Knowles (Bahamas) taking on the unseeded South African tandem of Jeff Coetzee and Wesley Moodie, while the second semi will see No. 8 seeds Jonas Bjorkman (Sweden) and Kevin Ullyett (Zimbabwe) facing the star-studded duo of Nadal and Spaniard Tommy Robredo.