Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a shot to compatriot Janko Tipsarevic during their semi-final match at the Toronto Masters tennis tournament in Toronto August 11, 2012.MIKE CASSESE/Reuters
Novak Djokovic has a simple suggestion for Rogers Cup organizers: get a roof.
The tournament's top-seed and defending champion booked a spot in the final by defeating fellow Serbian Janko 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 the No. 14 seed Richard Gasquet, who eliminated eighth-seeded American John Isner 7-6 (3), 6-3 under cloudy skies earlier in the day at Rexall Centre.
Djokovic led 3-2 in the first set when umbrellas popped open in what's 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.
"I don't see any reason why hard court tournament don't have covers on their courts," said Djokovic. "And I think this tournament, after this year's experience should strongly consider covers for next year. If they inflate the covers, like they do on Wimbledon for example, it saves us time.
"It would be a good solution to these problems."
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 the fifth-seed 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.
"I managed to play a good return game and when you're up a set up I felt momentum was on my side and that I should use it," said Djokovic. "And in the second set I played really good."
The 27-year-old Isner, making his debut at the Toronto tournament, advanced to the semifinals by ousting Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont.
There are no Canadians left on the men's side. Top-ranked doubles specialist Daniel Nestor of Toronto and partner Max Mirnyi of Belarus lost their quarter-final match 6-4, 6-4 to Spain's Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez on Saturday.
Granollers and Marc Lopez had their semi against Sweden's Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau of Romania postponed due to rain, as did Americans Bob and Mike Bryan and their match against Austria's Jurgen Melzer and India's Leander Paes.