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(Reuters) – Rafael Nadal will face Daniel Medvedev for the Rogers Cup title in Montreal on Sunday after France's Gael Monfils pulled out of Saturday's semi-final against Spain's top seed.
Medvedev defeated Karen Khchanov in Russia's first semifinal before Monfils was unable to face Nadal after suffering a left ankle injury in the quarter-final win over Roberto Bautista Agut.
Medvedev, eighth seeded, defeated Khchanov 6-1 7-6 and will become Russia's top professional on Monday, but believes he could have settled the match more quickly.
"I played very well, but I have two chances to settle the game," said the 23-year-old at Radio Tennis.
"I trusted myself, but I made mistakes that I was not supposed to do," he said.
Medvedev lost two chances to take advantage of the break in the second set, including once in the 5-4 lead and the service was enough to win the match.
Medvedev was also unhappy with his lead with a 2-1 lead in the tie breaking and Khchanov scored four straight.
But Medvedev, who has not lost any group in the tournament, has beaten and tied 4-4 and eventually won the match.
Monfils needed a tiebreaker before beating Bautista Agut in the third set of his two quarterfinals because of the rain.
Monfils won 6-4 3-6 7-6 but an ankle injury forced him to retire two hours after the win and before Nadal's encounter in the semifinals.
Monfils started to hurt his ankle in the second set, but the doctor allowed him to continue playing.
Bautista Agut easily won the second set before Monfils took a 5-0 lead in the final set of the last set and finally won a brilliant forehand after more than two hours of play.
Monfils said that he was proud of the way he had faced Bautista Agut.
"I think I have shown that I was a fighter."
(Reuters)
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