Rafael Nadal's bid for an historic eighth French Open title was almost spectacularly derailed on Monday by big-hitting German Daniel Brands. Defending champion Nadal dropped the opening set of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career before he prevailed 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 6-3 against a player who had lost all four of his previous matches in Paris. The Spaniard, who before this year had only lost once in 53 matches at Roland Garros, came into the tournament having won six titles in eight finals since he returned from a seventh-month injury lay-off.

Madrid, May 9 (EFE).- Roger Federer came up well short in his bid to defend his title at the Mutua Madrid Open, losing 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 in Thursday's third round to Japan's Kei Nishikori. The Swiss great, who had not played a tournament since mid-March at Indian Wells on hard court, was noticeably rusty during the one-hour, 35-minute match and largely beat himself with unforced errors from the baseline.

Results from the seventh day of the Monte Carlo Masters on Saturday: Semi-finals Rafael Nadal (ESP x3) bt Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x6) 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-2, 6-1 afp

Result from the seventh day of the Monte Carlo Masters on Saturday: Semi-finals Rafael Nadal (ESP x3) bt Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x6) 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) afp