Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals. This is the first semi, between world number one and eight-times defending champion Rafael Nadal and Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

That's 46 straight wins in Monte Carlo for Nadal who is now through to the final where he will face the winner between world number one Novak Djokovic and Fabio Fognini. They are up next.

NADAL 6-3 7-6(3) - GAME, SET & MATCH! Nadal wraps things up at the first attempt, in the breaker at least, firing a series of forehands across court until he finally finds the angle to beat Tsonga.

NADAL 6-3 6-6(3-3) - TIE-BREAK! There is nothing to choose between the two players at the change of ends as Tsonga takes the last point with a forehand winner after being pushed deep on teh previous point and dinking an off-balance forehand into teh net with his back to it.

NADAL 6-3 6-6 - Tsonga is furious with himself after a one-handed swing volley off the backhand wing is duly punished by Nadal. One point later and the Spaniard has another match point but Tsonga saves it with a vicious cross court forehand winner before going on to force the tie-break with an unreturnable serve.

NADAL 6-3 6-5 - Nadal gets things back on track with a love service hold - a one-two combo of a cross court forehand followed by a change-of-direction forehand winner down the line. Tsonga will have to serve to stay in this match for a third time.

NADAL 6-3 5-5 - Nadal denies Tsonga on a first game point with an inside-out cross-court forehand winner right on the line. But the Frenchman produces an ace, his second of the game, to hold and fully level things up in this second set.

NADAL 6-3 5-4 - BREAK! Tsonga produces back-to-back drop shot winners both off backhand volleys to bring up another two break back points. Nadal saves them both, one with an unreturnable serve and one with an ace. But Tsonga gets a third chance and this tiem he does get teh break back, with a cross court forehand winner. Fantastic play from Tsonga, who is back on serve now, albeit still trailing by a game.

NADAL 6-3 5-3 - Great work from Tsonga as he holds from deuce, almost wrong-footing Nadal on the baseline and at least drawing the forehand error. Nadal still has one more chance to serve for the match though.

NADAL 6-3 5-2 - BREAK! Tsonga salvages some pride by getting that second break straight back, the Frenchman finally applying some pressure to Nadal and keeping him pinned behind the baseline, eventually forcing the error. Tsonga will still have to serve to stay in the match next

NADAL 6-3 5-1 - BREAK! Nadal is just playing spectacularly well now as he whips a foerhand winner down the line to break and leave himself serving for the match next

NADAL 6-3 4-1 - Yes, it's looking like it is too late for Tsonga now as Nadal races through another service hold to leave himself potentially just two games away from the win

NADAL 6-3 3-1 - Tsonga stops the run of four straight games against him with a much more impressive hold to 15 with a series of big serves. Much better from the Frenchman but is it already too late?

NADAL 6-3 3-0 - Tsonga creates a little bit of space for himself to go down the line and level at deuce as he looks to turn this match around. But he nets his forehand and Nadal holds instead, to consolidate the break

NADAL 6-3 2-0 - BREAK! It's all falling apart for Tsonga now as he quickly offers up three break points for Nadal. The Spaniard only needs the one, however, as Tsonga runs around teh ball and looks to fire an inside-out forehand across court. But he goes well wide and Nadal is firmly in control.

NADAL 6-3 1-0 - Not too much trouble for Nadal as he holds for the opening game of the second set as Tsonga once again fails to find the court with a couple of returns

NADAL 6-3 - SET! Tsonga sends a forehand long to hand Nadal an first set point. And then promptly does exactly the same thing again to gift the Spaniard the opening set.

NADAL 5-3 - Nadal eases through a speedy hold of his own to leave Tsonga serving to stay in this opening set.

NADAL 4-3 - Tsonga doesn't let the tricky wind cause him too much trouble despite being forced to cover his eyes briefly to prevent grit from getting into them. But he holds to love to at least vaguely keep the pressure on Nadal

NADAL 4-2 - A good solid game from Nadal as he holds to love, Tsonga sending a forehand return long of the baseline to help the Spaniard consolidate his break in this opening set

NADAL 3-2 - BREAK! A little bit of a hangover from that previous game for Tsonga as he looks a little sluggish and Nadal takes full advantage. The Spaniard whips a forehand passing shot winner across court to earn himself a break point before sealing the lead when Tsonga fails to find the court with a forehand.