Djokovic too hot for Nadal

Novak Djokovic dropped just five games as he made light work of second seed Rafael Nadal to set up a final meeting with home favourite Gael Monfils in the BNP Paris Masters today.

The Serbian, ranked third for the event, took only one hour and 16 minutes to dispatch semi-final opponent Nadal 6-2 6-3.

Djokovic has now beaten Nadal six times in 20 meetings, including their last two matches, but this was the first of those successes outside North America.

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 up against 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 the win in quick time.

Djokovic told Sky Sports 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.”

Monfils was given a much stiffer workout by Radek Stepanek in the second semi, taking two hours and 41 minutes to earn a 6-4 5-7 6-4 victory.

Monfils, seeded 15th, hit 11 aces as he dominated on serve while he also competed strongly on Stepanek’s serve, creating 11 break points and converting six.

The Parisian will enjoy the home support when he meets Djokovic in tomorrow’s showpiece but the

22-year-old Serb is likely to start as heavy favourite after easing past Nadal.