CLAY court maestro Rafael Nadal remains on course to become the first man in the Open era to win 10 tournament titles after reaching the final of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.

    However, the Spaniard’s 6-3 6-1 semifinal victory over David Goffin came amid controversy following a highly-dubious first-set line call that seemed to disrupt the Belgian.

    Having secured an early break, Goffin looked set to take a 4-2 lead when Nadal sent a forehand long, only for chair umpire Cedric Mourier to overrule the call after examining the wrong mark in the clay.

    Unexpectedly back to deuce, Nadal eventually prevailed in a 22-point sixth game that lasted 17 minutes and nine seconds to level the first set up at 3-3.

    It appeared a significant turning point as Goffin, who knocked out world number two Novak Djokovic in the previous round, won only one game thereafter.

    Nadal broke for a second time to move 5-3 ahead and then held to take the first set in 57 minutes and, from then on, the 14-time Grand Slam winner was barely stretched.

    Nadal told the ATP Tour’s official website: “It’s tough to believe that I’m in a final again here.

    “I’m able to start the clay-court season playing a final in one of the most important events of the year. It’s a very special place for me and this is something that makes me feel very happy.”

    He now boasts an incredible 62-4 win-loss record at the Monte-Carlo Country Club.

    (SD-Agencies)