Mirka Vavrinec, wife of Switzerland's Roger Federer, applauds during his second round match against Italy's Andreas Seppi, at the Monte-Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, yesterday. - AP
MONACO (AP):
Rafael Nadal stretched his winning streak at the Monte Carlo Masters to 23 matches yesterday by beating Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina 6-2, 6-3 in the second round.
Nadal is chasing a fifth straight title at the event and each time he has won in Monte Carlo he has gone on to win the French Open.
He has won 17 straight on clay since losing to Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second round of the Rome Masters in May 2008.
Nadal opened up a 4-0 lead over Chela at the Monte Carlo Country Club, but stuttered after that, losing his serve twice and saving five other break points. The top-ranked Spaniard will next face either two-time Grand Slam champion Marat Safin or Nicolas Lapentti.
Reprieve
Roger Federer, who lost to Nadal in the last three Monte Carlo finals, also advanced, beating Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-4, 6-4.
Federer struggled briefly when serving for the match, trailing 40-30. But the second-ranked Swiss player got a reprieve when Seppi's return bounced out and he then clinched the match when another Seppi return sailed long.
It was Federer's first match since getting married last weekend.
"I am very happy to have won my first match on clay," said Federer.