Rafa and Russian to duel for glory

RAFAEL Nadal will play Russia’s Daniil Medvedev for the Canadian Open title in Montreal today after injured Frenchman Gael Monfils withdrew from his semi-final with the Spanish top seed.

Medvedev toppled Karen Khachanov in an all-Russian semi- final before Monfils announced he was in no shape to face Nadal a couple of hours after injuring his left ankle in a quarter-final win over Roberto Bautista Agut.

Eighth seed Medvedev prevailed 6-1, 7-6 (7-6) over Khachanov in a victory that will make him Russia’s top-ranked player, but felt he should have finished his rival off earlier.

“I played amazing but there were two moments in the match I should have won easier,” the 23-year-old said.

“I was confident about myself and then there were some mistakes I should not have done. Finally, [I let Khachanov] back in the match.”

Medvedev was upset at letting a break advantage slip away on two occasions in the second set, including at 5-4 as he tried to serve out the match.

He also was unhappy that after he led the tie-break 2-1, Khachanov scored four consecutive points.

But Medvedev, who has not lost a set in the tournament, fought back to tie at 4-4 and after two more ties won the final two points and the match.

Frenchman Monfils also needed to win a tiebreaker to defeat Bautista Agut in the third set of their rain-delayed quarter-final.

Monfils won 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2) in a match that took two days to complete because of rain. The ankle started bothering Monfils in the second set but after a visit by a physio he elected to continue. Bautista Agut won the set comfortably and the third went to a tiebreaker which Monfils led 5-0 before sealing victory with a huge forehand winner after more than two hours.