Nadal is the heavy favourite to win today as he continues his bid for a 12th Monte Carlo title.
But Pella has 17 match wins to his name in 2009 and a title at the Brazil Open and Nadal says he is expecting a tough battle.
He said: [It] is another opportunity to play against a good player, because he’s playing well.
“He already won three good matches. So he will be with big confidence, and I need to be ready to try to find solutions again.”
RAFAEL NADAL VS GUIDO PELLA LIVE
FIRST SET
*Nadal 1-4 Pella
Pella is all over Nadal’s serve at the moment and he again gets to 0-30. But Nadal gets level again, 30-30.
Break point Pella again as Nadal finds his forehand return too hot to handle. A tentative backhand from Pella goes into the net.
Nadal drop shot goes wide, break point Pella. And Nadal nets a forehand to give Pella the double break.
Nadal 1-3 Pella*
Pella races to 40-0. Nadal fights back to 40-30. And Pella is the first man to hold serve as he put a forehand winner just inside the line.
*Nadal 1-2 Pella
More good play from Pella gets him to 15-30. And Nadal goes long with a forehand to give Pella a break point.
And the Argentine breaks AGAIN with a deft volley. Brilliant.
Nadal 1-1 Pella*
Nadal moves to 0-30 as he looks to break back straight away. And he then gets two break points.
Pella goes wide with a backhand down the line and it is back on serve.
*Nadal 0-1 Pella
Great start by Pella as he rifles a backhand winner down the line. And he then whips a cross-court forehand for a winner, 30-30. Break point Pella after a Nadal error.
But Nadal wins a grueling rally to level the game. Nadal double fault hands Pella another break point.
And the Argentine makes the ideal start as Nadal goes long with a forehand.
14:55: Attention now turns to Nadal against Pella. The players are now on court.
14:52: So hopes of a Djokovic vs Nadal final have been dashed. But full credit to Medvedev for an outstanding display.
He will now play Dusan Lajovic in the semi-finals on Saturday.
14:43: Djokovic is OUT. Medvedev wins 6-3 4-6 6-2.
14:25: Medvedev breaks Djokovic and leads 4-1 in the final set.
14:02: Djokovic has won the second set 6-4 to force the match into a decider.
13:40: Medvedev won the first set 6-3 but Djokovic leads with a break in the second set.
13:30: Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of Rafael Nadal’s clash with Guido Pella at the Monte Carlo Masters.
The match will get underway once Novak Djokovic vs Daniil Medvedev concludes.