TENNIS in DEPTH.

Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal to reach the final of the BNP Paris Masters today.

The 6-2 6-3 success represented a sixth win in 20 meetings for the Serbian at the expense of the world number two – and a first outside north America.

However, it was a second successive victory for Djokovic, who came out on top the last time the pair met – in Cincinnati in August.

He was in control throughout the first set, with an impressive backhand cross-court shot in the third game serving notice of his intentions.

The Serbian took advantage of his first opportunity to break in the sixth game and repeated the feat in the eighth to make sure he took control of the match.

After being broken in the first game of the second set there was no going back for Nadal, who was struggling to compete with the Serbian’s energy and movement.

Although a sweet forehand in the ninth game saved the Spaniard from facing match point, it was not long before he was facing two of them when he flopped a return into the net.

And on his second serve Djokovic produced a forehand which was too hot for Nadal, wrapping up victory in 76 minutes.

Despite hitting fewer aces and making more unforced errors than his opponent, Djokovic was a worthy winner and deservedly claimed a final meeting against either Radek Stepanek or Gael Monfils.

Djokovic said afterwards: “I didn’t know this is the first time I’ve beaten him outside north America, so I’m happy to have won in another continent against him.”

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