Nadal survives Murray battle to reach final

MONTE CARLO: Rafael Nadal needed to produce one of his best performances on clay Saturday to the edge of an injured Andy Murray 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 and book a place in the final Masters Monte Carlo.

For the 15th time in the past two decades, a Spaniard will be included in the title match at the Country Club, with tender won six times Nadal for a seventh consecutive title here against his compatriot David Ferrer.

Spanish fourth seed soon ended the surprise run of Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-2, a day after Austria had made to Roger Federer.

Nadal needed just shy of three hours to go before Murray, who was nursing a right elbow injury and received treatment in the third set after having set up a titanic battle in the first two sets.

The Spanish world number lost his first set of Monte Carlo since the 2009 final against Novak Djokovic, however, that Murray turned in an effort to combat.

"It's a fantastic win for me," Nadal said. "It was a game very, very difficult. It's a dream to get to another final here.

"It's a great start this season on clay. I am very happy, it's good for me. "