Rafael Nadal’s bid for a 12th Monte Carlo Masters title was shattered by Russia’s Andrey Rublev, who swept to a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 quarter-final win on Friday.
Rublev became only the fifth player to defeat Nadal in Monte Carlo which has long been a stronghold for the Spaniard.
Nadal, bidding to reach the semi-finals of a Masters event for the 75th time, followed world No 1 Novak Djokovic, who was beaten in the third round, out of the tournament.
World No 8 Rublev will face unseeded Casper Ruud, who put out defending champion Fabio Fognini, for a place in the final.
“For Rafa, it must be incredibly difficult to play with this pressure of always having to win,” said Rublev who also made the Miami Masters semi-finals at the start of April.
“I’m shocked to see the level which he can reach despite this pressure. It’s much easier to play when you have nothing to lose.”
It was only the second time in 16 appearances in Monte Carlo that Nadal had failed to make the…