Top seed Novak Djokovic eased past an out-of-sorts David Nalbandian to reach the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals and stay on course for a possible re-run of last year's final against Rafael Nadal.
The Serb took advantage of a raft of Nalbandian errors, particularly in the first set, to win 6-2 6-3, ensuring he would be the only non-Spanish player in the last four.
‘This is certainly one of the best matches I've played this year,’ the world number two told Sky Sports 1.
‘I had a very difficult opponent who has come back great in the last six, seven weeks and has been playing great tennis.’
Djokovic broke twice early on to race into a 3-0 lead before the Argentinian rallied to pull it back to 3-2.
He was struggling to control his game, however, and Djokovic broke again to take the set 6-2.
The Serb broke again at the start of the second set and this time did not let Nalbandian back in.
‘I knew it would be a tough one, but I played great tennis from the start,’ said Djokovic, who added he was feeling good about his game after his recent split from coach Todd Martin.
‘I thought Todd Martin was a great coach and he was a fantastic player and he helped me but it just didn't click in the end. No hard feelings, life goes on.
‘I'm back with Marian (Vajda) full time and it feels right.
‘These opening three games have given me a lot of confidence.’
Nadal beat Djokovic 6-3 2-6 6-1 in a seesaw final last year and he moved one step closer to a rematch by beating compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-4 6-2.
Nadal, who has won the title here every year since 2005, has been in great form this week but he was pushed hard by the 2002 and 2003 champion in the first set.
The second seed then powered through the second to register his 30th consecutive win in the tournament.
He will next face another Spaniard, David Ferrer, a 7-5 7-6 (7/1) winner over Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber.
