Djokovic survives uphill Raonic battle

Serb books Rome Masters final berth after three-hour struggle.

ROME:

Novak Djokovic reached the Rome Masters final on Saturday after coming through a tough semi-final with Milos Raonic to beat the Canadian 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.

Djokovic, the number two seed, will face world number one Rafael Nadal in Sunday’s final should the Spaniard defeat Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in the second semi-final late Saturday.

Djokovic had ousted David Ferrer 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in the quarter-finals while Nadal came through a tough clash with British number one Andy Murray on Friday.

Djokovic, who took exactly three hours to rack up his second win against Montenegrin-born Raonic in as many encounters, has won the Rome Masters twice, in 2008 and 2011.

‘Errani keeps Italian hopes alive’

Sara Errani beat Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 7-5 on Saturday to book her place in the final of the Rome Masters and maintain her hopes of becoming the first Italian woman to win the tournament in 29 years.

Errani, seeded 10, claimed her second consecutive semi-final place on Friday when she produced a stunning upset in overcoming China’s number two seed Li Na 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Jankovic had accounted for Agnieszka Radwanska, the third seed from Poland, 6-4, 6-4 to claim her last-four place.

But the Serbian sixth seed was never in the game against 2012 French Open finalist Errani, who will appear in Sunday’s final for the first time in her career.

“It was quite difficult out there, Sara played a great match and credit to her,” said Jankovic.

“She sent a lot of balls back and made me hit a lot of extra ball simultaneously using extra spin.

“Overall it was a difficult day, I gave my best but there are a lot of things I could have done better.”

Errani, 27, was ousted from the semi-finals last year by Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

Jankovic, meanwhile, hopes her run to the semis is enough for a solid campaign at the French Open, where she has been stopped at the semi-finals three times.

“I had a good return in Rome. I wish I could to the final, that was my goal,” added the Serbian.

“It was a good week before the French Open, I had a lot matches especially against top players.“I’m looking forward to competing in Paris and hopefully to play my best tennis over there.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2014.

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