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Nadal, Federer to meet in final

Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko during their semi-final at the Monte Carlo Masters in Monaco on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will meet in the Monte Carlo Masters final for the third straight year.

Federer advanced from his semi-final on Saturday when third-seeded Novak Djokovic retired when trailing 6-3, 3-2, while Nadal beat Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 6-2 to reach his fourth straight final.

“I’m happy [with] the way I’m playing,” said Federer, who is also excited about facing Nadal for the 15th time overall. “He’s been impressive no doubt. He’s been playing excellent.”

Nadal leads Federer 8-6 and 6-1 on clay — the Spaniard’s only loss on the slow surface coming last year at Hamburg, Germany.

“There’s only a handful of players who can beat him on clay, he’s that dominant,” Federer said. “I’d like to be able to push him tomorrow [Sunday] and see what he can come up with in the important moments. Because I’m playing well again.”

Nadal is the three-time defending champion and has not lost a set in the clay-court tournament since beating Federer in the 2006 final.

Nadal has not even been taken to a tiebreaker so far.

“I think I am playing well, I am doing good work,” Nadal said. “I think I am more adapted to clay every match. I play more clay [court] style every day, having control of the point with the forehand.”

Djokovic called for a trainer at the end of the first set and then shook hands with the top-ranked Swiss player after losing his serve in the fifth game of the second.

“From the start I didn’t feel so great,” Djokovic said, complaining of dizziness and also a sore throat. “I just couldn’t get enough energy back after each point. I feel dizziness a little bit in the last three days. I don’t know. Doctor in the tournament couldn’t give me the right diagnosis. I’ll check as soon as possible.”

Djokovic had a similar illness in February against Russia in the Davis Cup, retiring against Davydenko when leading in the reverse singles and afterward complained of dizziness and low energy.

After saving three break points in the fifth game of the first set, Federer took control. He broke the Serb in the eighth game and served out the set — with an impressive 94 percent of points won on first serve.

The Australian Open champion, broken twice more by Federer in the second set, felt it was too risky to continue.

“It’s not worth it,” Djokovic said. “I’m just 20 years old. Still a lot of time, a lot of tournaments to come.”

Nadal was troubled by Davydenko’s clever angles and ability to sustain rallies, but the Russian was unable to take his chances, converting only one of five break points. In contrast, Nadal broke Davydenko five times from seven chances.

“Every point is a long rally,” Davydenko said. “Nadal is very tough, physically he is in a top condition.”

Nadal won the match when Davydenko’s attempt at a forehand winner went long.

Nadal’s last defeat at Monte Carlo came in the third round against Guillermo Coria five years ago. The Spaniard missed 2004 through injury and since has won 21 straight matches.

Nadal took the first set by breaking Davydenko’s serve when the Russian hit a forehand wide from the baseline.

Nadal got another break to go up 3-1 in the second, but Davydenko broke right back and then lost his serve again to trail 4-2.

In the seventh game, Davydenko played some of his best tennis of the tournament, pinning Nadal to the baseline and hitting winners down the line off his strong forehand. But he missed three break points and then complained that the tournament balls slowed down his game.

“The balls are more heavy,” he said. “I didn’t hit so fast.”

Davydenko can still be pleased with his start to the season, after beating Nadal for the title at Key Biscayne and then losing last week’s final at Estoril against Federer when he retired with a leg injury.

“For me it was a good week,” Davydenko said.
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