Nadal wins twice at Monte Carlo

MONTE CARLO, Monaco, April 17 (UPI) -- World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, one of four players who played two matches Friday at the Monte Carlo Masters, has reached the tournament semifinals.

The top seed and reigning four-time Monte Carlo champion beat Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti 6-3, 6-0 to complete their rain-delayed third-round match, and then was a 6-3, 6-3 winner against Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic in the quarterfinals.

Earlier, Ljubicic was a 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) winner over Italy's Simon Bolelli in the third round.

Scotland's Andy Murray, the fourth seed, beat Italy's Fabio Fognini 7-6 (13-11), 6-4 before a 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 win over No. 8 seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia.

Davydenko appeared to tire after earlier downing Argentina's David Nalbandian, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

In Saturday's semis, Nadal of Spain faces Murray and third-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia meets No. 13 seed Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland.

The tournament's winner Sunday will pocket $580,500.