MONTREAL — Novak Djokovic had to fight off an upset bid from qualifier Ernests Gulbis, defeating the Latvian 5-7, 7-6 (9/7), 6-1 Friday to reach the semifinals of the Montreal Masters. But Rafael Nadal, like Djokovic a former champion at the event, was unable to escape an on-form Kei Nishikori as the fourth seed sent out the Spaniard 6-2, 6-4 thanks in part to six double-faults from Nadal. The red-hot Nishikori is riding a wave of momentum from his hardcourt title last week in Washington and will next face second seed Andy Murray who beat French 10th-seeded holder Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-4 and took revenge for a semifinal loss a year ago in Canada. Nishikori won his first match against Nadal after seven losses, taking just under 90 minutes to advance in his best Canadian showing. “It took a long time to finally beat him, but I'm very happy to win my first match against Rafael,” said Nishikori. “I knew I have to be aggressive, so I have to change some tactics to play against Rafa. I felt like everything was going in. “He's still not maybe 100 per cent, but he's Rafa.” Seventh seed Nadal was playing in Canada for the first time since winning his third title here in 2013 and he now stands 28-7 in the country. Djokovic found himself down a set and a break against Gulbis. Gulbis, whose career best was a Roland Garros semi-final in 2014, has since gone into a funk in 2015. But he forced his world number one to save two match points in the second-set tiebreaker of a thriller lasting two and a half hours. Djokovic leveled at a set apiece and re-established order as he ran away with the third set for the win. “Ernests was a better player for two sets — unfortunately he missed two match points,” Djkovic said. Djokovic is bidding for his fourth Canadian title and the win puts him into a semifinal against unseeded Jeremy Chardy. Chardy booked his first career appearance in the semifinal of an ATP Masters 1000 event, struggling for three hours to defeat John Isner 6-7 (9/11), 7-6 (15/13), 7-6 (7/4). Chardy overcame 32 aces from the big American to reach the final four. The match, which began two hours late due to rain, lasted three hours and eight minutes. Chardy advanced with 12 aces and a single break of serve while saving break points on six of seven occasions. The Frenchman has cast a spell over Isner in their career meetings, winning all four of their matches including at Roland Garros in the second round in May. Serena reaches semis World number one Serena Williams continued her march toward her fourth Toronto title Friday with a 6-4, 6-3 dismantling of Italy's Roberta Vinci in the quarter-finals of the WTA Rogers Cup. The 33-year-old Williams extended her Toronto match win streak to 14, powering her way past Vinci by blasting 12 aces in the 78-minute centre court match. She moves on to face 18-year-old Belinda Bencic in the semifinals at the hardcourt warm-up event for the US Open, the year's final Grand Slam tournament that begins August 31. Williams could win her fifth Grand Slam title in a row and complete a calendar year Grand Slam by defending her US Open crown. That would also give her 22 Grand Slam singles titles, matching Steffi Graf for the most in the Open era. Bencic beat fifth seeded Ana Ivanovic in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 in a night match. Romanian second seed Simona Halep advanced to the semifinals by roaring back to defeat Polish sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 0-6, 6-3, 6-1. Halep next will face Italy's Sara Errani, who defeated Ukraine qualifier Lesia Tsurenko 6-4, 6-4 in the other semifinal. — Agencies
