Rafael Nadal will have to clear one last Spanish hurdle as he closes in on an historic sixth straight title at the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters.
Compatriot Fernando Verdasco upset top seed Novak Djokovic 6-2 6-2 to prevent a re-run of the 2009 final won by Nadal over the Serb.
Meanwhile Nadal despatched David Ferrer 6-2 6-3 after overcoming two-time champion Juan Carlos Ferrero in the quarter-finals.
