By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | August 10, 2019
Gael Monfils pulled out of the Coupe Rogers semi-final in Montreal, sending Rafael Nadal through.
Photo Source: Christopher Levy
Rafael Nadal didn’t even need to win on Saturday in Montreal to become the all-time leader in Masters 1000 final appearances. The Spaniard was given a walkover as Gael Monfils pulled out with an ankle injury, sending Nadal to his 51st Masters 1000 final.
Nadal will face first-time Masters 1000 finalist Daniil Medvedev for the title on Sunday in Montreal. Medvedev defeated compatriot Karen Khachanov 6-1 7-6(6).
Nadal and Medvedev have never met.
Nadal and Monfils were poised to meet for the 17th time, with Nadal holding the 14-2 lifetime edge against Monfils, but the Frenchman injured his ankle during his quarter-final victory over Roberto Bautista Agut earlier on Saturday.
Monfils entered the week with ankle issues and during the course of the 2:24 battle with Bautista Agut, he made them worse. Not making matters any easier was the fact that Monfils and Bautista Agut were rained out on Friday night, causing the quarter-final to be played on Saturday as part of a double-header for the winner.
“I felt good,” Monfils said of his status early in the match against Baustista Agut. “But at 6-4, 2-1 I had a pain moving backwards, and my ankle that was already painful, I hurt it again. When you're warmed up, it's okay. Even it's very okay because I was able to run a lot in the next game because on that previous game I got broken. I had opportunities to break back the following game. I really used my ankle.
“But very quickly you could see that physically I was not fit as I should be since the beginning of the week. So in the third set I chose to play only my serve games. On the return games I didn't have enough energy to win. My ankle was hurting, I was afraid for my ankle.”
Nadal will bid for a record 35th Masters 1000 title on Sunday. The four-time Rogers Cup champion is 37-8 lifetime at the event, and he is the all-time Masters 1000 win leader with 380.