MONTREAL (AP) β Top-ranked Novak Djokovic survived two match points and rallied to beat Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis 5-7, 7-6 (7), 6-1 on Friday night in the Rogers Cup quarterfinals.
Djokoic survived match points for the first time since 2012 in Shanghai against Andy Murray. The Serb, the tournament champion in 2007, 2011 and 2012, has won 51 of 54 matches this year.
Djokovic will face France’s Jermey Chardy, a 6-7 (9), 7-6 (13), 7-6 (4) winner over American John Isner in the rain-delayed opening match.
Fourth-ranked Kei Nishikori of Japan beat seventh-seeded Spanish star Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-4. The tournament winner last week in Washington, Nishikori topped Nadal for the first time in eight attempts.
Nishikori will play the second-seeded Murray. The Scot beat 10th-seeded defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 6-4, 6-4.
