MONACO (AP)—Six-time defending champion Rafael Nadal reached the Monte Carlo Masters final, defeating Andy Murray 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 on Saturday.
Nadal will play fourth-seeded David Ferrer in an all-Spanish final. Ferrer defeated seventh-seeded Jurgen Melzer of Austria 6-3, 6-2 to reach his second Masters final. He lost his first in Rome to Nadal last year.
"It is a fantastic victory for me against a very difficult opponent," Nadal said. "Start the clay court season being in the final is very good for me."
Nadal had to work for nearly three hours against Murray, who needed a cortisone shot in his right arm before the match. The top-ranked Spaniard earned his 36th straight win at the clay-court tournament, dropping a set at the tournament for the first time since the 2009 final against Novak Djokovic.
The third-seeded Murray took a medical timeout while down 3-0 in the third set, getting his arm and elbow massaged.
The start of the match was delayed nearly 30 minutes so Murray could get the cortisone shot for pain. Murray said he was unsure he would play, and it was the first time in his career he had taken such an injection.
"I had a cortisone injection, whatever, local anesthetic in my elbow before the match," Murray said. "I was really like uptight about it. I'd never had one before, didn't know what the feeling was going to be like. The doctor said that would probably be what would be suggested even if I didn't play the match, that they would suggest a cortisone injection, like an anti-inflammatory."
Nadal looked to be coasting to another straight-sets win at 4-1 up but Murray rallied, edging the five-time French Open champion 9-7 in winners in the first set. He had a 13-3 advantage in winners in a second set.
"He's the best player in the world and there's a reason for that," Murray said. "It's good to be close, but I think I could have done better."
Nadal lost his serve six times in the match, struggling when Murray stepped inside to hit angled winners.
"I was being patient. I was playing a ball with good height," Murray said. "When he left it a bit short, I was sort of stepping in."
Nadal praised Murray's overall game.
"He has unbelievable potential. He's very good in all the surfaces," Nadal said. "There's no reason why he cannot play very well on clay because his serve is good, his movements are very good, and his shots are with topspin."
Murray, who is 4-10 against Nadal, thinks he has a way to go before he can beat the Spaniard on his favorite surface.
"I want to try to play better than that," Murray said. "I'll need to, if I want to beat him, because he's going to improve the next few weeks for sure the more he plays on clay."
Ferrer is looking forward to the final with Nadal.
"I'm full of confidence. I feel good physically, and also with my tennis," Ferrer said. "I hope I'll keep going."