Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, Monaco

Men’s Semifinal: [2] Andy Murray (GBR) vs. [5] Rafael Nadal (ESP)

I suffered through the first set and watched as Nadal could do nothing right and Murray seemed unstoppable.  Things looked really bad for Nadal when he failed to even hold his last service game to lose the set 6-2.  I seriously doubted that Nadal could win this match if Murray continued to play this well.

I am a huge Nadal fan and I felt my tension rising, imagine how much more was Nadal’s.  It’s one thing to watch his matches in the privacy on my apartment; however, in person, it’s a more dramatic experience.  The atmosphere of the crowd is promptly felt.  One fan came into my section and proudly announced that this section was for Nadal.  I knew that he would quickly realize we had similar allegiance the minute I started shouting “Vamos Nadal!”

I am not ashamed to say that I screamed my head off cheering Nadal on, willing him to win this match.  I was willing him to turn things around in the second set and desperately hoping that he would close it out on his serve.  Nadal was able to elevate his game and vintage Nadal showed up in the second and third sets.  Murray may have felt the fatigue from his grueling match against Benoit Paire; whatever the reason, he could not maintain his level of the first set.  Nadal won 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 and is into his 10^th Monte-Carlo Final and his first Masters Final since Madrid 2015. Does this mean that Nadal is fully back?