Spain's Rafael Nadal
Spain's Rafael Nadal in action during his semi final match against Italy's Fabio Fognini Image Credit: Reuters

Monte Carlo, Principality of Monaco: Rafael Nadal crashed to Fabio Fognini in the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals on Saturday, the Spanish clay court king swept aside 6-4, 6-2, to end his bid for a 12th title.

The shock result leaves Italian 13th seed Fognini facing unseeded Serb Dusan Lajovic in Sunday's unscripted final.