Stuttgart: Top seed Rafael Nadal and Gael Monfils both struggled on their least-favourite surface on Friday before setting up a semi-final at the first edition of the Stuttgart Open to be played on grass.


Rafael Nadal returns to Bernard Tomic in the Stuttgart Open quarter-final. Nadal won 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3. Pic/AFP 

The former July clay-court tournament is now part of the three-week run-up to Wimbledon after being approached three years ago to consider making the change of surface and date. Nadal needed almost two and a half hours to defeat fifth seed Bernard Tomic 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, beating the Australian for the third time as they played on grass for the first time.