April 26, 2008, 18:15
Roger Federer set up a third straight final showdown with Rafael Nadal at the Monte Carlo Masters after Serbian Novak Djokovic retired ill from their semifinal match today.
The Swiss top seed was leading 6-3 3-2 when Australian Open champion Djokovic, seeded third, pulled out after complaining of dizziness and a sore throat.
"From the start I did not feel so great. But obviously, at the start of the match you feel, you know, fresh still somehow. But then after a while, after five, six games, after long points, I started to feel more and worse," Djokovic told reporters. "I was thinking about, you know, stopping even after the first set. But I just wanted to try and see how it goes."
Three-time champion Nadal reached the final with a 6-3 6-2 win over Russian fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko. The muscular Spaniard will face a rejuvenated Federer, who regained his best form yesterday by beating Argentine nemesis David Nalbandian 5-7 6-2 6-2.
In the first set against Djokovic, the Swiss, who suffered from mononucleosis earlier this year, was back to his brilliant self. He saved three break points in the fifth game before stealing Djokovic's serve on his first attempt to open a decisive 5-3 lead. Djokovic seemed in a position to bother the 12-times grand slam winner in the second set, only for him to leave the court following a quick chat with Federer.
Nadal, who will be gunning for a fourth consecutive French Open title next month, was unimpressive but still too good for an exhausted Davydenko. The Russian, ranked third in the ATP Race after winning the Miami Masters against Nadal, needed two hours 44 minutes to overcome compatriot Igor Andreev in the quarterfinals yesterday and had already played 33 matches this season.
He said he could not have done better: "I tried to play my best. But if I hit balls, for Nadal it's normal. He just runs and makes topspin back and gets running again."
Nadal has not lost a set in Monte Carlo since the 2006 final against Federer, whom he beat at the same stage last year. - Reuters
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