Monte Carlo Semifinal Previews: Nadal, Goffin will play for first time

Lucas Pouille [11] vs. Albert Ramos-Vinolas [15]

It’s hard to imagine that anyone had these two in the semifinals in their Monte Carlo preview.  And it’s hard to imagine that anyone has an especially strong conviction about who is going to win their match on Saturday. The 17th-ranked Frenchman and the 24th-ranked Spaniard have played once, on hard courts in 2015, and the Frenchman won in straight sets. But the Spaniard has been surprising us all week.

Winner: Ramos-Viñolas

Rafael Nadal [4] vs. David Goffin [10]

Is it really possible that the 30-year-old Nadal and the 26-year-old Goffin have never faced each other in the seven years they’ve been on tour together? I swear I can visualize points that they’ve played, but the ATP’s website says they never happened. All the better for us on Saturday; this will be something new under the tennis sun. Can Nadal get the ball above Goffin’s shoulders? Can Goffin take Nadal’s shots on the rise and laser them into the corners, the way he did against Novak Djokovic on Friday? And will the Belgian be sharp enough to take on Rafa after that long quarterfinal? We’ll find out for the first time.

Winner: Nadal

Watch the Fed Cup Semifinals this weekend on Tennis Channel Plus.