Tennis: Federer ousts ailing Djokovic in Monaco semis

Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates after beating Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the Monte-Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament tennis match, on April 19, 2014, in Monaco. Federer beat an injured Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-2 to set up an all-Swiss Monte
Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates after beating Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the Monte-Carlo ATP Masters Series Tournament tennis match, on April 19, 2014, in Monaco. Federer beat an injured Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-2 to set up an all-Swiss Monte Carlo Masters final with Stanislas Wawrinka, after the Australian Open champion ousted David Ferrer 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) on Saturday. -- PHOTO: AFP

MONTE CARLO (REUTERS) - Roger Federer beat an injured Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-2 to set up an all-Swiss Monte Carlo Masters final with Stanislas Wawrinka, after the Australian Open champion ousted David Ferrer 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) on Saturday.

Holder Djokovic resisted for one set before pain in his right wrist was just too much to bear for the second-seeded Serb, who bowed out on the first match point after one hour 14 minutes.

The much-awaited clash lived up to expectations early on, with 17-time grand slam champion Federer saving two set points on serve at 5-4.

Federer, who has never won the Monte Carlo Masters, broke in the following game and pocketed the set with an ace before Djokovic went to his chair holding his right wrist.

The second set was a stroll for the Swiss, who produced a series of forehand winners as he moved 18-16 up in his head-to-head record against Djokovic.

Earlier, third seed Wawrinka showed no mercy against the giant-killing sixth seed Ferrer, who knocked out eight-time French Open champion and world number one Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals on Friday.

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