Monaco: Roger Federer defeated defending Monte Carlo Masters champion Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-2 on Saturday to set up an all-Swiss final against Stanislas Wawrinka.
Djokovic complained of soreness in his right wrist at the start of the week and took to the court with it heavily strapped. Although he seemed to be fairly comfortable at the start of the semifinal, the wrist seemed to affect him more toward the end of the first set, and he was serving way below his best throughout the second.
The fourth-seeded Federer entered the tournament only after accepting a wild card invitation, having missed the two previous editions, and he bids to win it for the first time after losing three consecutive finals to eight-time champion Rafael Nadal from 2006-08.
Sunday's final will be the first all-Swiss final since Marc Rosset beat Federer in Marseille in 2000, and the first time that Federer and Wawrinka meet in a final. The odds appear against Wawrinka, who trails Federer 13-1 overall. But he will take heart from the fact the only win was here, in the third round, back in 2009.
Wawrinka progressed after beating Spaniard David Ferrer 6-1, 7-6 (3). Wawrinka has six career titles but has lost his previous two Masters finals on clay - at Madrid last year and in Rome six years ago to Djokovic.
Although the third-seeded Wawrinka made a string of unforced errors - 40 compared to 12 for Ferrer - he hit far more winners, 31-8, in beating Ferrer for a third straight time.
"It was important to move well, be aggressive. That was my plan," Wawrinka said. "I know when I'm moving well and I can dictate the game, I'm always good against him."
Sixth-seeded Ferrer looked in good form when he beat Nadal in Friday's quarterfinals, but was unable to withstand Wawrinka's aggressive approach, and spent much of the semi pinned behind the baseline.
Wawrinka remains on course for his third title of the season, the fourth of his career on clay and his first in any Masters event.
He moved to 5-2 in the tiebreaker with a drop shot that Ferrer could not reach and clinched victory on his second match point when the Spaniard rushed a two-handed backhand into the net.
Ferrer, the 2011 runner-up, rarely troubled Wawrinka, forcing only two break-point chances.
"All the time he moved the ball better than me," Ferrer said. "Nothing to say. Stan played better than me."
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