Swiss maestro faces compatriot Wawrinka in Monte Carlo Masters showdown
Roger Federer ousted 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.
"It's unfortunate that when you're playing at this level against Roger, big tournament, that you are not able to play your game because something else is taking away all your energy and effort," Djokovic said.
"This injury has been present for last 10 days, and I tried not to think or talk about it. I did everything I could really, I was on the medications every day, I was doing different therapies, injections."
"I didn't want to pull out because then people start talking different things about me and my withdraws and so forth. That was the main reason," Djokovic said. "I just held my strength, whatever I had, and wanted to play until the end."
But it was becoming too easy for Federer, who secured successive breaks to take control. He raised both hands in the air after winning on his first match point, and Djokovic sloped off looking despondent and doubtless worried about his wrist.
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.