Nadal thru, Fed KO'd

There were glimpses of the formidable Rafa Nadal as the eight-times champions swept aside French Open champion Stan Wawrinka 6-1 6-4 on Friday to reach the Monte Carlo Master semifinals.

Later in the day, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga survived a scare from Roger Federer to reach the next round of the tournament.

After two one-sided sets, the decider was one worthy of any major tournament. Tsonga eventually won 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, as the two battled fiercely to the end in the final set. Tsonga will the winner of the game between Marcel Granollers and Gael Monfils in the semfinal.

Nadal, who set a tournament record of 46 wins in a row in the principality from 2005 to 2013 when he finished runner-up, will take on Andy Murray for a place in the final.