Ranked Novak Djokovic advances to Toronto semifinals

Milos Raonic has warmed up to the same song at every match of the Rogers Cup – “My House” by Flo Rida. Stan bullied his way out to a big lead of the tired looking Nishikori. “A 4-4 is definitely different than a 5-3”. Then, a pair of errors off his racket would give Nishikori the 8-6 tiebreak win.

Djokovic took the opening set but went down a break in the second, earning it back as he won a nine-minute fourth game for 2-2. American Jared Donaldson also continued his hot play with an impressive 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win over Fabio Fognini who won last week at Umag. “I’ve been able to get the better of him twice this year because I was controlling the court and taking time away from him, coming forward”. I should have played better. “I think if I can play good tennis, I think I will have some chance to win. I was calm, served very good and mixed up my game”, he said. He had many match points against me. I think it’s going to be interesting.

Despite dropping his first set, Berdych said that he wasn’t concerned because it was an early break.

Djokovic will face third seed Kei Nishikori of Japan in the final on Sunday night. The Vancouver product will face Monfils in the second round.

Berdych outlasted American qualifier Ryan Harrison 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-4.

“You do have a certain mental comfort knowing that you have had plenty of success against your opponent”. But Monfils won the next game and it seemed as though the two would trade games based on who had serve. “I know I have to be a little bit more aggressive to beat him”.

The serve remains a serious issue for Djokovic. “I had to stay committed from the beginning and I’m very, very pleased with the way I played”. We had a solid day on the hard courts on Thursday as we cashed all three of our tennis picks. “And then suddenly he was not missing anymore”. He became super solid. Djokovic looks to reach his eighth final appearance this season and hasn’t lost a semifinal appearance in over a year. Miami was a mismatch. So he’s there for the beating. Novak had as many aces as double faults, and all the stats are fairly even. Anderson was injured earlier in the year, much like Monfils, but now he’s playing well. Tomorrow, Novak won’t be so fortunate if he gets down.

Roger Federer is also absent as he is now on the injured list and fellow three-time champion Rafael Nadal is not at 100% to compete and wants to be fully fit for the Olympics.

“He’s one of the best players right now”, Lu said. Will that be the case, who knows? “I played a point at a time. I’m going to have to continue doing that”.

“It’s tough playing the first hardcourt match since March”.