Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic advance in Cincinnati

The top-ranked Djokovic is 0-4 career in finals at Cincinnati, where he’s never even won a set.

Williams will now take on Ana Ivanovic who showed plenty of heart to come back a set down against home favourite Sloane Stephens.

Williams beat Ivanovic in straight sets to win her first Cincinnati title past year.

Novak Djokovic had to rally against a lowly qualifier to get another shot at a title he’s never won.

His aim to become the first player to win all nine different ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles remains alive. She’s using the tournament as a final tuneup for the U.S. Open, where she’ll try to complete a Grand Slam sweep. The No. 2 seed had not dropped a set to the South African in three prior meetings and this would be his most dominant display yet.

Both Nadal and Lopez served solidly in the decider, dropping just three and four points respectively on first serve and offering up not a break point.

She dominated the last six games, advancing to a semifinal against 14th-seeded Elina Svitolina.

“He just makes you play, and (he) plays more careful on the big points”, Dolgopolov said.

After losing the first set and trailing by a game in the second, Paire needed some magic to reel in the might of Djokovic.

After succumbing to pressure against Murray, Djokovic has kept his temper in check so far in Cincinnati.

With 16 men left standing, and the rain-storms of previous days at last banished from the schedule, the Western & Southern Open was left with every one of its headline players competing for the quarter-finals.

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The two hadn’t played since the French Open.

Dolgopolov took advantage of Djokovic’s sluggish start and won the first set in 31 minutes. “I’m very happy with the match“.

“I didn’t know I had that many, to be honest”, she said. There is a lot of positives to take from this week – winning two tough matches without playing my best tennis, fighting, staying there.

The second semi-final match will be between world number one, Novak Djokovic and Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov.

Andy Murray of Great Britain serves to Richard Gasquet of France during their quarterfinal round match in the Western & Southern Open at the Linder Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, USA, 21 August 2015.

The Swiss number one decided to skip the Rogers Cup in Canada last week to ensure he is in the best possible shape for Flushing Meadows but being overtaken by Murray could have serious implications on his potential path to the title.

Playing a night match, Federer improved to 12-0 career against Lopez, who knocked off Rafael Nadal a day earlier.

Federer has a 13-11 lead over Murray in overall meetings.