| Djokovic storms into Toronto semifinals |
TORONTO Defending champion Novak Djokovic, playing his second match in four hours, stormed into the semis of the Toronto Masters on Friday while Canadian Milos Raonic failed to deliver a similar outcome for the home crowd.
Djokovic, who was among several players playing two matches to make up for Thursday’s washout, defeated German Tommy Haas 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 hours after dispatching American Sam Querrey 6-4, 6-4 in a contest interrupted by a three-hour rain delay.
The top-seeded Serbian, who needed 2-1/2 hours to get by Haas, will next face fifth-seeded compatriot Janko Tipsarevic, who kicked off the evening session with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Spain’s Marcel Granollers.
Tipsarevic had reached the last eight by beating Croatia’s Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-4 earlier on Friday.
Raonic, playing in his home tournament for the first time since breaking into the world’s top 25, fell 7-6, 6-4 to eighth-seed American John Isner, who earlier edged Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber.
The big-serving Canadian was on court for the first time since Tuesday, having been handed a walkover to the quarterfinals after Olympic singles champion Andy Murray pulled out due to injury. While Raonic managed 13 aces in the match, Isner controlled the rallies, clinching the match with a volley to the open court after one of his own booming serves left the 16th seed well out of position.
In the second semifinal, Isner will face fourth-seed Frenchman Richard Gasquet. Gasquet handed fourth seed Tomas Berdych a third consecutive opening loss with a 6-4, 6-2 scoreline then followed up in the quarters over American Mardy Fish 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.
“I tried to fight a lot and I defend well, I did a good match,” said Gasquet. “For sure to play two matches in a day, it’s very difficult.
“I saw him (Fish) a little bit tired at the start of the second set. First set he played very good. I couldn’t do anything. He was playing very good from the baseline, going to the net.
“I’m in the semifinals, I’m feeling confident, so I’m sure I can win more. But it’s a big challenge to return these kind of (big-serving) guys.”
Unless weather co-operates over the weekend, the pre-US Open event could still be facing a possible delayed Monday conclusion.
“Monday is a possibility, but we’ll get there after probably tomorrow night and have that discussion,” said tournament director Karl Hale, who has already lost seeds including Olympic gold medallist Andy Murray (knee injury) plus bronze medallist Juan Martin del Potro and doubles silver medallist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to opening defeats.
Agencies
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