World number two Murray continued where he had left off yesterday, having dismantled Canada’s Milos Raonic, as he had the better of the opening exchanges of the contest.

Murray was able to earn a 4-2 advantage and sealed the opening set by breaking his Spanish rival again.

However, Nadal responded well to losing his first set of the week, with his power helping him to claim a crucial break in a tightly fought second set to triumph 6-4 and force a decider.

The momentum had swung into the Spaniard’s favour and he capitalised impressively by earning a double break en-route to sealing a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory.

Nadal's victory was his seventh over Murray on clay in eight meetings and moves him one match away from earning his ninth Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters title.

The Spaniard previously won the tournament, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event, for eight consecutive years between 2005 and 2012.

His run was ended by Novak Djokovic, with Nadal having lost the 2013 final to the Serbian.

Nadal will meet France's Gael Monfils, after he earned a convincing win over his compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

The 29-year-old dominated the encounter to emerge as a 6-1, 6-3 winner.

Monfils' triumph saw him become the first Frenchman to reach the final since Cédric Pioline claimed the title in 2000.