Gasquet downs Isner to reach Toronto final

Frenchman Richard Gasquet nullified the huge serve of John Isner to reach a second career final at the Toronto Masters with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 win Saturday.

The 14th-seeded winner, who lost the title match here in 2006 to Roger Federer, will play for the trophy on Sunday against either top seeded Novak Djokovic or Janko Tipsarevic.

The London Olympics doubles bronze medallist Gasquet is hoping to become the first French winner of the tournament in the post-1968 Open era

The 26-year-old advance in 80 minutes in a match played during a dry spell in what has been a miserable three days of rain in the area.

Gasquet was playing in his sixth Masters 1000 semi-final, reaching title matches in Hamburg in 2005 and Toronto a year later. He has six career titles.

The Frenchman, whose one-handed backhand is rated as one of the most flawless in the men's game, never let Isner into the match, running the big man around the court and forcing errors from the American eighth seed.

Gasquet took the first set into a tiebreaker, earning a 4-2 lead off a passing shot before taking the 42-minute opener on the first of three set points with an overhead winner.

In the second, Gasquet broke for 4-2 with another pass past Isner and profitted three games later from two consecutive forehand errors from his opponent to earn the victory.

"It's great to be in another final this season," said the runner-up last May on clay in Estoril. "I felt good on the court and played well.

"I'm in good form and looking forward to going one more step."

Gasquet's win was his 30th this season against 15 losses.

 

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