Nadal pushed hard for final spot against Monfils

Rafael Nadal was given a scare as he advanced to the final of the ATP Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Qatar.

The top-seed dropped the opening set 6-4 to German qualifier Peter Gojowczyk to open up the possibility of a huge upset. But the Spaniard regained his composure and took the next two 6-2 6-3 to move into the final where he will take on Frenchman Gael Monfils.

Gojowczyk broke Nadal for an early 3-0 lead but the world number one evened things up before his opponent, ranked 161 places below him, took the set. Two early breaks of serve had Nadal back on the front foot and, after easing to the second set, Gojowczyk’s resistence was broken in a match lasting just under two hours.