MONTREAL: Novak Djokovic bulled his way into a title clash with Roger Federer at the Montreal Masters with a 7-5, 6-2 upset of second seed Rafael Nadal.
The victory was the second for the Serb third seed on hardcourts against the Spanish king of clay, after a March win in Miami.
Djokovic has a huge ask on Sunday as he faces Federer, who has beaten him all four times they have played.
The Serb struck 11 aces and saved all eight break points he faced against Nadal, who won the tournament the last time it was played in Montreal two years ago.
The Canadian event rotates annually between the French-speaking city and Toronto.
"This is one of the biggest wins of my career. I beat him (on hardcourt) in Miami, and I've done it again," said Djokovic, who has already won three titles this season.
"I played some really impressive tennis. It was a great atmosphere."
Nadal said he ran out of steam.
"He was just too good today," Nadal said of Djokovic, who had lost to the Spanian five times before the Miami triumph.
"I have to work on my movement a bit. I had a week off with a knee problem, and I've only been practicing lightly before coming over.
"I've had a good week, and the fans are maybe more disappointed than I am."
Federer hammered his 12th and 13th aces to secure a 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 win over Radek Stepanek to move to within one victory of his 50th career title.
Federer will be playing in his fifth final in his last six events, the only blemish on his recent record from an upset loss to Italian Filippo Volandri in May at the Rome third round.
In the interim, the winner of 11 Grand Slam events has won Hamburg and Wimbledon. He is playing this week for the first time since lifting a fifth straight title at the All England Club with a win over Nadal, against whom he stands 2-2 in 2007 finals.
"I was very happy the way I played," said Federer. "It was a tough match with a lot of crucial points, a lot of shots played on reaction. I couldn't really dictate play. He kept coming at me, but I came up with some really nice passing shots when I had to."
Federer spent 53 minutes in blunting the 60th-ranked Stepanek's first-set attack.
The Swiss recovered from 0-40 down and took a 4-3 lead on an ace before winning a tiebreaker - Stepanek saved three set points - and then taking charge for victory in the second set after one hour, 21 minutes.
Federer has won two of the last three Canadian editions in Toronto in 2004 and 2006.
Federer has won 16 straight matches in Canada and now has 40 wins on the season against five defeats.
