Top-ranked Novak Djokovic advanced to the Rogers Cup final, beating France’s Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday.
Djokovic will face second-seeded Andy Murray, a 6-3, 6-0 winner over fourth-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan in the night semifinal.
“Andy is all-around player, very complete, and has been around for so many years,” Djokovic said. “He knows how to play in the big stage, in the big matches.”
Djokoic, the tournament champion in 2007, 2011 and 2012, has won 52 of 55 matches this year. The Serb is in position to tie the ATP Tour record for consecutive Masters 1000 event titles at five. He stretched his career record against Chardy to 10-0.
Djokovic is 19-8 against Murray, winning the last eight meetings with the Scot, including the Australian Open final this year.
With the win Saturday, Murray will pass Roger Federer for the No. 2 spot in the world in the next ranking.
“It’s nice to be back (at No. 2),” said Murray, the Rogers Cup champion in 2009 and 2010. “It’s not easy now playing against some the greatest players ever to play the game.”
Djokovic had little trouble against Chardy after surviving two match points to beat qualifier Ernests Gulbis in a three-set quarterfinal Friday.
“Every time I came in, I had a really tough volley to play,” Chardy said. “I mean, I like to come at the net when I have easy volley, not a tough volley. And every return game I had no chance. So it was not so easy to try new stuff.”
Djokovic also played in a doubles semifinal, teaming with fellow Serb Janko Tipsarevic in a 3-6, 6-1 (10-4) loss Canada’s Daniel Nestor and France’s Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France. Top-ranked twins Mike and Bob Bryan beat Austria’s Alexander Peya and Brazil’s Bruno Soares 6-7 (7), 6-4, 10-7 in the other semifinal.
