Djokovic overcomes injured Tsonga to next face Fish in Montreal

By Bill Scott Aug 14, 2011, 2:03 GMT

Montreal - Novak Djokovic continued his total tennis domiantion this season as the world number one advanced to the final of the Montreal Masters as French opponent Jo-Wilfired Tsonga quit with a right forearm injury to hand over a 6-4, 3-0 win Saturday.

Djokovic has now won 52 of 53 matches this season and needs a victory over American Mardy Fish on Sunday to notch a ninth trophy of the season.

The winner needed just 59 minutes to go through over the player who eliminated Roger Federer in the third round. He said he didn't know Tsonga was hurting.

'I try not to pay attention to the opponent, I'm trying to keep focus. But I was able to break at the right time in the first set.

'After that he seemed to be struggling with his movement. He told me he had been carrying that injury for awhile.'

Djokovic will play American Mardy Fish, who defeated Serb Janko Tipsarevic 6-3, 6-4.

Djokovic ended the opening set against Tsonga with a break and got up 3-0 before the Frenchman called the trainer and then quit the match.

Tsonga ended with more than 20 unforced errors as his frustration built. he now stand 5-4 over Djokovic in their series.

Djokovic is trying to become the first player to win five ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles in a season but said he's not under pressure in his new position atop the ATP rankings.

'I don't feel a lot different as number one. Maybe I get more attention now. I played my first match in a month only this week, I had a slow start.

'But after that I felt more and more comfortable on court. I'm raising my level with each match.

'Becoming number one has been my goal all my life. Now I've achieved my dream. I have no reason to be afraid of what is coming next. Everything is a new experience and a challenge.'

Fish has been swimming with the tide on summer cement in the US Open run-up after winning the Atlanta trophy a month ago and playing the ensuing Los Angeles final against Latvian Ernests Gulbis.

The 29-year-old skipped the Washington ATP stop last week to rest a heel injury and has exceeded all of his expectations in Canada, where he has only played - and lost - twice before.

Fish won two titles in summer 2010 and is looking for more success this season. He will head to the Open in just over a fortnight as the top American with good friend Andy Roddick trailing second on 12th.

Fish becomes the first from his country to play a Canadian final since Andre Agassi in 2005. Agassi and Roddick both won trophies in Canada.

'I knew this week was a good opportunity. I didn't even get into the tournament last year - I was not even in the main draw and didn't come.

'It was a pleasant surprise to get here and see how fast the surface was.'

Fish improved to 33-15 on the season but owns a 0-6 record against Djokovic.