MONTE CARLO: Three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal reached the Monte Carlo Masters final with a 6-3 6-2 win over Russian fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko on Saturday.The second-seeded Spaniard will meet world number one Roger Federer of Switzerland in Sunday's final after Federer's opponent Serbian Novak Djokovic retired from their semi-final because of illness.
Federer was 6-3 3-2 ahead when his 20-year-old Serbian opponent shook hands after complaining of feeling dizzy.
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 quarter-finals on Friday and had already played 33 matches this season.
Nadal has not lost a set in Monte Carlo since the 2006 final against Federer, whom he beat at the same stage last year.
He has now won his last 21 matches in the principality and was last beaten there in 2003 by Argentine Guillermo Coria in the third round.
Two double faults by Davydenko earned the Majorcan a break in the third game. Nadal clinched the first set on his first opportunity when his opponent sent a forehand wide.
Following an early exchange of breaks, Davydenko dropped serve again in the sixth game and Nadal held his in the seventh after shrugging off three break points.
He sealed the win on his second match point when Davydenko sent a forehand long after one hour 41 minutes. - Reuters
