Top-seed Novak Djokovic will get a chance to defend his Rogers Cup title after defeating fellow Serbian Jarko Tipsarevic 6-4, 6-1 on Saturday in a match that was delayed twice by rain.
Djokovic, ranked second in the world, is looking for his third title at the tournament and first trophy since winning four months ago in Miami. He will face Richard Gasquet in the final.
The No. 14 seed from France eliminated eighth-seeded American John Isner 7-6 (3), 6-3 in one hour 20 minutes under cloudy skies earlier in the day at Rexall Centre.
Gasquet, ranked 21st in the world, is making his first trip to a Masters 1000 final in six years. In 2006, also in Toronto, Gasquet lost to Roger Federer.
Djokovic led 3-2 in the first set with fifth-seed Tipsarevic serving on 30-30 when umbrellas popped open in what has become a familiar sight at this week's tournament. It was the second delay of the match after the skies opened during the players' warmup, causing a 90-minute interruption.
When the match resumed after an hour, the two Serbs played a seesaw seventh game before Djokovic hit a stunning cross-court backhand, then won the game on Tipsarevic's unforced error to make it 4-4.
Long baseline rallies continued as both players chased the ball corner to corner. Djokovic finally broke through in the 10th game when Tipsarevic went long twice from deuce to give his opponent the break and the set.
Tipsarevic, who had won two of their last three meetings, gave up another break early in the second set to go down 3-1, with Djokovic gaining momentum by wearing down his opponent with his return game.
Djokovic broke again for a 5-1 lead, then served out for the match just under the stroke of midnight.
The 26-year-old Gasquet, meanwhile, handled Isner's imposing serve well, drawing the six-foot-nine American into a game of baseline rallies. He also served with precision, winning 90 per cent of first serve points in the first set and finishing the match with four aces.
"It's a difficult player, but the key to the match was to return well and I did it," Gasquet said.
He blazed a backhand by Isner to lead 4-2 in the tiebreaker and smashed an overhead shot to close out the set and deflate Isner, who played two matches on Friday night because of rain delays. Gasquet also played two matches on Friday.
