World No.1 Roger Federer and defending champion Rafael Nadal set up a mouthwatering final meeting at the Monte Carlo Masters Series on Saturday.

Federer survived an early scare to ease past Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero with a 6-3 6-4 victory while two-times champion Nadal saw off Czech prospect Tomas Berdych 6-0 7-5 to extend his record winning streak on clay to 66 matches.

Spain's Nadal, the world number two and claycourt king, defeated Federer 6-2 6-7 6-3 7-6 in last year's final in the principality before winning his second French Open with victory over the Swiss in Paris.

Nadal needed 83 minutes to beat 10th seed Berdych, who was on a three-match winning series against the Spaniard following victories at the Cincinnati (2005), Toronto and Madrid (2006) Masters Series hardcourt events.

Berdych only managed seven points in a first set he lost in just 23 minutes.

However, in the second he started to hit winners but dropped his serve in the 11th game when he double-faulted.

Nadal ended the Czech's resistance with a service winner on his first match point.

"He is a very good player, I knew I had to play a great match to beat him," Nadal said in a courtside interview.

"I am happy with the way I have been playing this week."

Federer got off to a sluggish start, dropping his serve in the third game as 2003 French Open champion Ferrero hit powerful groundstrokes from the baseline.

Federer twice asked the chair umpire to call for calm as spectators seated overhead were disturbing him.

"They were eating, it's not wrong but it is disrespectful for the people who are trying to watch the game," Federer told reporters.

"They should show more respect to the other fans. Of course, if you are down and you also have the noise, it's more upsetting."

The noise seemed to trouble Federer more than Ferrero, who said: "It did not bother me. I had enough to worry about with Federer."

However, the match turned Federer's way when he saved two break points in the fifth game.

After comfortably saving the first, the Swiss attempted a drop shot that hit the top of the net to fall on to Ferrero's side of the court.

"I was a bit lucky on this point," said Federer. "But I never had the feeling I was totally out of the match. After breaking back, everything went well."

The Swiss, who grabbed his 500th professional victory with a 6-4 6-0 demolition of David Ferrer on Friday, made his mark on the second set by breaking in the first game.

He then held serve to wrap up a 76-minute win with a backhand passing shot on his third match point.

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