Djokovic tops Ferrer to reach Italian Open final

Rome, May 17 (IANS/EFE) Serbian world No.1 Novak Djokovic continued his dominant start to the 2015 season, defeating Spaniard David Ferrer 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday to reach the Italian Open final and extend his winning streak to 21 matches.

Not much separated the two players on center court at the Foro Italico, but Djokovic managed to convert two of his five break chances against Ferrer's serve while staving off all three break points he faced.

Djokovic also defeated Ferrer earlier this season at the Miami Masters, a hard-court event, and has now won nine straight matches against the Spaniard and 11 of their last 12 contests.

The Serbian won the Australian Open in January and this week is seeking his fourth ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title of the season, having already won events in Indian Wells, California; Miami; and Monte Carlo.

His record thus far in 2015 is a remarkable 34-2.

Next up for Djokovic in Sunday's final of this clay-court event, a major French Open tune-up, will be either Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka, who eliminated Spanish seven-time champion Rafael Nadal on Friday, or Swiss world No. 2 Roger Federer.

The Serbian has won three Italian Open titles in this career and is hoping a fourth trophy will catapult him to a first-ever championship at the French Open, which gets underway on May 24.

Wawrinka, who lost to Djokovic in the 2008 final, and Federer, a three-time finalist, are both seeking their first Italian Open title.

--IANS/EFE

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