Gasquet Returns to Toronto Finals After Six Year Wait

Isner pulls out of Cincinnati with a back injury.

By Erik Gudris

(August 11th, 2012) -- It took him six years, but France's Richard Gasquet, has returned to the finals of the Rogers Cup in Toronto with an impressive performance over John Isner in the semifinals.

Despite Isner being known for having one of the biggest serves on tour, it was Gasquet who early on in the first set kept hold of his own service games with relative ease while the Frenchman often had several looks at breaking the American. Despite not playing as well as his opponent, Isner eventually forced a tiebreak but it was Gasquet who jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead.

Isner had a chance to level the tiebreak for 3-all until Gasquet hit a looping forehand passing shot winner to stay ahead of the American and eventually win the set. The second set saw more of the same as Gasquet, serving at a healthy 76%, never faced a break point in the entire match.

After Gasquet broke Isner with a backhand passing shot to go up 4-2, it was all Gasquet needed to eventually serve out a convincing 7-6(3), 6-3 win and reach his second final of the year and his first Masters 1000 final since Toronto in 2006.

Djokovic Aims For Back to Back Titles With Win Over Tipsarevic

Defending champion Novak Djokovic faced another long night in his semifinal against fellow Serbian Janko Tipsarevic in a match initially delayed for two hours by rain.

After both men got the first set underway, rain once again halted play at 3-2 for almost another hour. Finally, when the showers ended allowing play to resume, Djokovic fought off three break points against him and eventually closed out the set 6-4.

Djokovic jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the second set and looked determined to end the match as quickly as possible. Despite enduring an eleven minute game late in the set, Djokovic got his wish as he closed out a 6-4, 6-1 win just before midnight.

Djokovic now seeks his second straight Rogers Cup title against Gasquet with the Serb holding a 6-1 lifetime advantage over the Frenchman.

(Photo Credit: AP/Canadian Press/Nathan Denette)