Monte Carlo: Rafa sets up Murray date

Eight-time champion Rafael Nadal marched into the semifinals of the Monte-Carlo Masters on Friday, despatching 2014 winner Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets at the stunning, seaside Country Club.

Nadal defeated Wawrinka 6-1, 6-4 and will meet Briton Andy Murray in the semifinal. Murray had an equally easy time in his quarterfinal, sweeping aside big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-0 in just over an hour.

This will be the third occasion of Nadal and Murray clashing in the Monte-Carlo semis, with the Spaniard emerging triumphant twice, in 2009 and 2011. It was Murray, however, who came out of top the last time they met on clay, in the Madrid Masters final last year.

Nadal, 29, has an unbelievable record at Monte Carlo. He ran up a 46-match winning streak across seven years, before Novak Djokovic dethroned him to claim the 2013 title.

• tennis
• rafael nadal
• andy murray
• atp
• monte carlo masters