体坛英语新闻：Nadal sets up semifinal clash against Djokovic at Monte-Carlo Masters

PARIS, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Eight-time champion Rafael Nadal booted out fellow Spaniard David Ferrer to reach semifinals of Monte Carlo Masters on Friday, and will go head to head with world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.

The "King of Clay", who has claimed 14 Grand Slam titles, managed 6-4 in the first set, and looked comfortable at the start of the second, swiftly racing to 3-0, struggling to break from then on and losing it 7-5 before coming back with a 6-2 third set to seal the victory.

"I think I played at the highest level in a long time, three hours almost," said Nadal, who has struggled with injury woes over the past year.

"The way I played the third set after losing a disappointing second was great in terms of tennis, in terms of physical performance, and in terms of mentality," he added.

Nadal leads a head-to-head record of 23-19 against Djokovic, including two victories over the Serb in the 2009 and 2012 finals in Monte-Carlo Marsters, before Djokovic exacted revenge in the 2013 title match.

The 27-year-old Djokovic moved to a perfect 12-0 record over Marin Cilic to reach the semis with a 6-0, 6-3 victory.

"The first set went completely my way," he said while explaining how he won the first eight games of the match in a row.

"I knew he was going to start to change some things in his game so he could start to play a little bit better. But I made a crucial break at the beginning of the second," he added.

The other semifinal will pit Czech top netman Tomas Berdych and Frenchman Gael Monfils, who upset world No. 2 Roger Federer in the last round.

Berdych reached the semis after rival Canadian Milos Raonic, the fourth seed, retired with a right-foot injury, while Monfils eased past Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 6-1, 6-3.