Kei Nishikori will face Novak Djokovic in the final of the Rogers Cup after beating Stan Wawrinka in straight sets.
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Novak Djokovic and Gael Monfils will face in the semi-final round of the Rogers Cup on Saturday at Toronto, Canada.
With just one title and one final since the start of 2014-and ATP 250s at that-tennis started to see something of the brilliance and athleticism that entertained fans, and even foes, when he burst onto the senior tour after winning three junior Grand Slam titles in 2004.
In Friday’s quarter-final, Wawrinka brushed aside Anderson 6-1, 6-3, taking advantage of the South African’s poor serving to cruise to victory in one hour and 13 minutes.
The No. 3 seed in his event, he will face the victor of tonight’s match between world No.1 and tournament top-seed Novak Djokovic and Gael Monfils of France – the fifth-seed and world No. 14. “I took confidence into the second set, tried to be aggressive on returns and stood farther back than usual”. Also, Frenchman made too many unforced errors and he lost the majority of the longer points, with no idea how to penetrate Novak from the baseline. Two points later, he found himself two break points on a forehand error from his opponent. I have played him many times.
The top seed, who has three Canadian titles already, was tested in a 71-minute opening set but survived before motoring to victory.
Monfils was better on the big points in this match-up of two elite servers, staving off all four break points he faced and converting two of his four chances to win 6-4, 6-4. “That’s it”, Wawrinka said.
He has never won an ATP Masters 1000 event and Djokovic owns a 9-2 record against him.
Stepanek, at 37 the oldest player in the field at the tournament, broke serve in the first game of the second set but it was merely a stay of execution against the world number one from Serbia. Last Sunday, he outlasted big-serving Ivo Karlovic to win the Citi Open in Washington D.C. Then Friday he calmly responded to Raonic’s 230-km/h serves, outpacing the local favourite over two entertaining frames. The Czech has now lost 17 straight matches against top five opponents. Novak Djokovic has historically dominated the world no. 8 Berdych; as he enters their quarterfinal match with a 24-2 strangle hold in the pair’s head to head record. “I knew I had to go for it, take chances and be a little bit risky to win against her”.
Keys conquered Kristína Kučová in the other semi-final, progressing thanks to a 6-2, 6-1 win. “I’m just happy to win”.
“I think he started much better tennis first couple games, especially”. The Serb only won 69% of his total service points, while getting his first serve in play just 65% time.
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Jones led a race-high 154 of 250 laps, but it took a late inside move for Jones to overcome Dillon for his first victory since at Dover in May.
