Djokovic advances

Rome

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic moved a step closer to defending his Italian Open title after dominating Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in a one-sided semi-final in Rome yesterday. Djokovic, who beat Rafael Nadal in last year’s final to claim his third trophy in the Italian capital, will now meet David Ferrer in the semis today when he will be highly fancied to account for the Spaniard.

In their 19 meetings so far, Djokovic has won 14 times. Although Ferrer has won three of their five meetings on clay, his last victory against the Serbian on the surface was during a Davis Cup match in 2009.

Djokovic has won their past two meetings on clay, including a three-set quarter-final in Rome last year. Djokovic had warned after a hard-fought third round win over Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci on Thursday that his Japanese opponent would be a tough customer.

But after levelling the match at one set apiece, the hard-hitting Nishikori’s challenge fizzled out in a third set that saw the fifth seed grow increasingly frustrated at his inability to match Djokovic’s clinical game.

Djokovic swung the match in his favour when he broke Nishikori in the fourth game of the third set for a 3-1 lead, taking his advantage to 4-1 with a forehand volley at the net.

Nishikori fought in vain and bowed to the inevitable as Djokovic advanced to the last four for the sixth time in nine appearances. 

If Djokovic moves past Ferrer on Saturday, he could face Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal in the final.

Earlier, Federer remained on course for a semi-final clash with Spanish rival Nadal after cruising past Tomas Berdych 6-3-, 6-3 in just over an hour.

Federer has only made the final in Rome three times in the past 12 years and been beaten on every occasion -- twice by Nadal and once by Felix Mantilla, in 2003.