DJOKOVIC SURVIVES RAONIC ONSLAUGHT, ENTERS FINAL

Reuters

■ sportsdesk@hindustantimes.com

ROME: For the second match in succession Novak Djokovic survived an Italian Open dogfight on Saturday, this time beating big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic 6-7 7-6 6-3 to reach the final.

He will next play the winner of the other semifinal between seed Rafael Nadal and the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. Nadal beat Andy Murray 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 in a three-set thriller on Friday night.

Djokovic, who won a sizzling quarterfinal against Spain’s David Ferrer, was subjected to an onslaught of power by Raonic but eventually got the better of the Canadian.

In the women’s event Sara Errani became the first Italian to reach the final in nearly 30 years after she saw off Serbia’s twice former champion Jelena Jankovic 6-3 7-5 in front of a passionate crowd at the Foro Italico. “The crowd was a motivation for me, they were unbelievable,” said a delighted Errani, who will have to beat either world No 1 Serena Williams or Ana Ivanovic on Sunday if she is to go one better than compatriot Raffaella Reggi in 1985.

The Djokovic v Nadal dream final is the most likely scenario for the men’s showdown but both players will have plenty of battle scars should that be the way it pans out.

Not least Djokovic who was involved in another punishing match against the 23-year-old Raonic - a clash of styles lasting exactly three hours.

He started in low-key fashion, apparently content to bide his time as Raonic unleashed serves at 230kmh.