Andy Murray showed every sign of finding his feet on clay but ultimately had to bow to the master in Monte Carlo.
Making his first semi-final appearance on the surface, the British number one produced some scintillating tennis, particularly in the second set, before falling 6-2 7-6 (7/4) to Rafael Nadal.
The world's best player - and arguably the greatest clay-courter in history - has now won 26 successive games at the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters and will face Novak Djokovic on Sunday in pursuit of a fifth straight title.
