Singles final pits Djokovic, Nadal

MONACO — Seven-time defending champion Rafael Nadal will try to beat topranked Novak Djokovic for the first time in eight finals when they meet in the Monte Carlo Masters final today.

Nadal advanced to the final without dropping a set in a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Gilles Simon, while Djokovic rallied from a set down to beat Tomas Berdych 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 and reach his second final at Monte Carlo.

“He’s the best ever in history of the sport on this surface. It’s an ultimate challenge,” Djokovic said. “I cannot have ups and downs. I cannot afford that against Rafa. But why not believe that I can win?”

Djokovic has beaten the Spaniard in seven consecutive finals, including the last Australian Open, and handed Nadal his only two defeats on clay last year.

“I have everything to win. That’s the only positive thing about losing seven times,” Nadal said. “The next matches, you only have to win.”

Nadal had not played the previous three weeks before the tournament after resting his troublesome left knee.

“Don’t forget that few weeks ago, I didn’t know if I will be here playing or not,” he said. “The match will be a fantastic test for me, and I have to play aggressive.”

With the Monte Carlo court among the slowest on the clay circuit, the conditions suit Nadal. However, he thinks that working his way back to full fitness, along with Djokovic’s recent record against him, means the Serb is the favorite.

“Seriously, I (would) like to play this match a few weeks later,” Nadal said. “When one player beats another one seven times in a row (on) clay, hard, and grass, is very easy to decide the favorite.”

Overall, Nadal leads their head-to-head matchups 16-14, but he has not won since a group-stage match at the 2010 ATP Finals in London. Nadal has not lost in Monte Carlo since 2003 — he was injured the following year — and has won 41 consecutive matches at the event.

“We are evenly matched,” Djokovic said. “You always know that Rafa is going to come up with his best fight and his best tennis.”

But the Serb, who lost to Nadal in the 2009 final, is playing under difficult circumstances.

Two days after the death of his grandfather, he pointed to the sky for several moments after his victory against Berdych.

“Under the circumstances, I didn’t know if I could reach the final this week,” Djokovic said.

The 10-time Grand Slam champion Nadal is without a title since winning last year’s French Open. He was also without a title in 2011 heading into Monte Carlo, then went on to win the event and at Roland Garros.

Simon missed all seven chances he had to break Nadal’s serve. Nadal clinched victory on his first match point when he held for love. The wind was swirling less when Nadal played, but Djokovic and Berdych were caught up in the thick of it.

“The wind blew all the clay from the court. It was like a hard court today,” Djokovic said.