MONTE CARLO QUARTERS: NADAL SIGHT SET ON SIXTH CONSECUTIVE TITLE

Rafael Nadal is chasing an unprecedented sixth consecutive title in Monte Carlo and he is three victories away from scripting history in the Open Era. Standing in his way of a semi-final spot is Juan Carlos Ferrero, compatriot, friend and respected national celebrity.
Top UK bookmaker, William Hill has rolled out over 20 markets on this eye-catching, fresh all-Spanish affair in the final eight. And that is not including all the Live Betting action that will become available once the match gets underway.
Nadal, 23, is the indisputable King of Clay and perhaps the best clay-courter of all-time (up for debate in some circles, apparently).
Ferrero, 30, is a former World No.1 player and French Open champion and perhaps the best clay-courter outside of the top ten ATP rankings today. He proved that when he beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a player that could be a formidable all-courter (in my humble opinion) if he ever gets his head on straight, in the last 16 yesterday.
Nadal enters this match firmly installed as the favourite to win outright trading at 1/20 odds while Ferrero is listed at puppy odds of 8/1. The market on this match tells half the story though.
Straightforward as the market might appear, the bookies leaving nothing to conjecture where which player they believe is the most likely to emerge victorious is concerned, pundits and experts alike have a slightly less assured take on this match, expecting Nadal to face a tough test in Ferrero. Some are even entertaining the possibility of an upset. [Insert dramatic shiver.]
This nervous trepidation in the market takes its momentum from critics and members of the media that would hold Nadal’s conspicuous lack of titles on the season as a serious charge against him. I am not fond of such witch-hunting and definitely do not agree with the refrain: he is a spent force.
Nadal has always been measured form wise on his clay-court performance. Granted he has made leaps and bounds on grass and hard courts but clay will always remain his beloved domain, the surface he reins over supreme. Until that time when he...watch this space...too unthinkable to voice.
If you have been following Monty, you will know Nadal dropped only two games in as many matches to reach the quarters. He crushed Thiemo de Bakker and Michael Berrer 6-1 6-0, and 6-0, 6-1, respectively.
Of course, neither player was a formidable opponent, slated to challenge him or upset him but that fact still shouldn’t take away from the frightening form he displayed. If anything it should convince punters of how badly he wants to win this title. So badly that Ferrero would have to play the match of his life to derail Nadal. I don't see it happening, obviously.