Roger Federer ended a four-match losing streak to new world No. 2 Andy Murray by 6-2, 7-6 (8) in the Western and Southern Financial Group Masters semi-finals yesterday.
Top-ranked Federer was leading the tiebreaker 9-8 when Murray double-faulted to lose to the Swiss star for the first time since last year's US Open final.
Federer will face the winner of the late semi-final between No. 3 Rafael Nadal and fourth-ranked Novak Djokovic in today's final.
TORONTO (AP):
Elena Dementieva reached the Rogers Cup final with a 7-6 (2), 6-1 win over Serena Williams yesterday.
The fourth-seeded Dementieva will face Maria Sharapova or Alisa Kleybanova in an all-Russian final today, as both played later in the semi-finals.
Williams, the Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, produced a wonky serve and a litany of unforced errors in front of a packed stadium court at the Rexall Centre.
The 2001 champ was broken five times and looked out of rhythm, hitting routine shots long, wide or into the net.
"I can't say I was especially feeling the fire," Williams said. "Obviously, you want to do well and I always really want to do well. Honestly, I think I could have and should have won, but I didn't, so ... it is what it is."
With the win, Dementieva avenged her loss to Williams in the semi-finals at Wimbledon, a three-set classic that took nearly three hours.