analysis Murray believes he can beat Nadal on clay, writes Simon Cambers

For most players, beating Rafael Nadal is like scaling Everest, a task too steep to conquer. Beating him on clay, and more specifically in Monte Carlo, is like doing it with your eyes closed and your racket turned the wrong way round. Yet, for Andy Murray at the Monte Carlo Masters today, it will be a task he believes he can achieve, thanks in no small part to the fact that he has already done it this week.

Having arranged a practice session with the great man at a venue where he has won six straight titles, Murray duly risked his wrath by beating him. After a desperate two months since reaching the Australian Open final, including three straight defeats, Murray’s 6-2, 6-1 win over the Portuguese qualifier Frederico Gil yesterday was further evidence that he is back on track and gunning for the world No.1.

“I know practice isn’t the only thing that matters but there are not many people who would beat Rafa in practice,” Murray said. “That’s not to say I’ll win against him in a match, but it helps when you are with those guys to know you’re not that far behind them and even though they’re playing great tennis right now, you can compete with them.

“After the Australian Open, I was losing practice sets and thinking it didn’t matter, but I’ve got the right attitude right now in practice and training and the matches will hopefully keep going the right way.”

Nadal was in total command in his 6-1, 6-3 win over Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic and the Spaniard will be an overwhelming favourite on his preferred surface. No one has beaten him at the Monte Carlo Country Club since he was a 16-year-old in 2003 and he has won nine of 13 meetings with Murray, including both on clay.

The last four meetings between the two have been split, though, and Nadal tends to bring the best out of Murray. There is no second-guessing, no wondering about which tactics to use; he has to go all out. “If I want to win, I’ll have to play one of the best matches of my life,” he said. “But that’s what I’ve got to be ready for, prepare myself mentally to do. If I do that, I’ll definitely make it very difficult for him.

“It’s a great challenge for me and a very difficult match. But I feel like I’m hitting the ball well. I need to go in with the right attitude, the right game plan, and play my style of tennis on this surface. I’ve played many great matches with Rafa and I always enjoy playing against him. I think I’ve got a chance.”

Murray said he will also take encouragement from the last time they met on a clay court, in Monte Carlo, at the same stage two years ago. That day, Murray played with sustained aggression and pushed the Spaniard to a second-set tiebreak.

“I think having played him here before is good for me and getting a chance to practice with him as well is good,” he said. “I expect a very tough match. I know his game well and I’m expecting him to come out all guns blazing, but I’ll be ready.”

The second semi-final will be between Spain’s David Ferrer and the Austrian Juergen Melzer, a surprise 6-4, 6-4 winner over Roger Federer, who struggled in a gusting wind. “I don’t think I played terrible; I thought it was okay,” Federer said. “I think it’s been a solid tournament. He played well when he had to, but I just missed too many chances today.”