Tournament top seed Novak Djokovic survived a tough two sets versus Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych on Friday night to advance to the semifinals. It took a little under two hours, but the world No. 1 managed to get the job done against Berdych and as a result, moved on at Rogers Cup presented by National Bank.
Djokovic defeated Berdych 7-6(6), 6-4 to advance to his seventh Rogers Cup semifinal appearance. He awaits the winner of the day’s last quarter-final match between Canadian Milos Raonic and Gael Monfils of France.
.@DjokerNole takes the first set in a tight tie-break 7-6 (6). pic.twitter.com/PR12uTWIod
— Rogers Cup Toronto (@rogerscup) July 29, 2016
On the other side of the draw, the semifinal match-up was determined earlier in the day. It’s a battle of the giants, as the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds are set to collide on Saturday. Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka will meet for the fifth time in their careers.
Nishikori of Japan triumphed in three sets over Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. Dimitrov, who looked like he was on his way to pulling off the comeback after flourishing in a strong second set, ultimately couldn’t solve his Japanese opponent. Nishikori picked up half of his six aces in the deciding set to put away the former world No. 8.
Dimitrov fought hard but @keinishikori pulls out the win and books a spot in the semis, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. #GetCloser??? pic.twitter.com/Ply6EaP1Nc
— Rogers Cup Toronto (@rogerscup) July 29, 2016
The victory secures Nishikori’s 10th Masters 1000 semifinal appearance, in which he meets Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka. The Swiss star became the first player to advance to the semifinals of Rogers Cup earlier in the day on Friday.
The No. 2 seed captured a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Kevin Anderson of South Africa in the early afternoon on Centre Court. The Swiss star took the first set in just 29 minutes, on a double fault by his opponent. Anderson registered five double faults in the contest.
Wawrinka holds the 3-1 lead in his head-to-head with Nishikori. The duo is set to hit the Centre Court stage Saturday at Aviva Centre.
The night session’s marquee match-ups include Tomas Berdych taking on the tournament’s top seed, Novak Djokovic, for a whopping 27th time, and hometown favourite Milos Raonic meeting France’s Gael Monfils to cap off the night on Centre Court.
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