• Shanghai Masters

Dominant Djokovic sails into Shanghai semis

Novak Djokovic won the China Open in Beijing this week © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Murray cruises past Tsonga
  
• News: Melzer stuns Nadal in Shanghai
  
• Profile: Novak Djokovic | Guillermo Garcia-Lopez

World No. 2 Novak Djokovic remains on course for a second title in the space of a week after breezing past Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in straight sets to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals.

After a shaky start Djokovic, who won the China Open in Beijing earlier this week, settled into his rhythm and easily subdued the Spaniard for a 6-2 6-3 victory.

Despite being in the form of his life, Garcia-Lopez, who stunned world No. 1 Nadal in the Thailand Open semi-finals a fortnight ago, was unable to produce another upset as he was well beaten by a player high on confidence.

The Spaniard was left to rue a series of unforced errors, as Djokovic notched his eight straight win to move into the last four.

"It has been a couple of months that I was struggling with my game with consistency," Djokovic told Sky Sports. "My service is working well now and I am playing on the baseline as good as ever."

Having beaten David Ferrer to defend his China Open title on Monday after heavy rain washed out Sunday's play, the world No. 2 could be on course for a second title in the space of a week.

"I haven't heard of anybody who won two titles in a week so maybe I can be the first one," he said. "God knows, there are still two matches to go - it's a very difficult tournament."

Roger Federer stands between Djokovic and the final after the world No. 3 crushed Robin Soderling 6-1 6-1. The Swede was uncharacteristically weak on his serve and could only manage nine points on the return, but Federer was clinical as he dispatched Soderling in just 54 minutes to set up a repeat of the US Open semi-final.

Djokovic saved two match points before triumphing 5-7 6-1 5-7 6-2 7-5 in New York, but despite the nature of the defeat Federer insists he holds no grudges.

"I guess after the US Open fans are looking forward to a rematch - I'm looking forward to it, no doubt about it, but it doesn't fuel me more having lost with a match point."

In the top half of the draw, Andy Murray will be the likely opponent for either Djokovic or Federer in Sunday's final after the fourth seed cruised past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Murray's semi-final opponent will be Argentina's Juan Monaco, who battled back from a set down to beat Jurgen Melzer 6-7(6) 7-5 6-2. The Austrian was clearly feeling the effects of his stunning victory over Rafael Nadal on Thursday, as the pair thrilled the Shanghai crowd with a hig-octane three-setter.

After two breaks of serve apiece, Melzer edged the tiebreak, but Monaco dug deep to take the second set - twice forging a break ahead only to be pegged back. But a third break proved decisive and the momentum was firmly with the world No. 41 in the final set as he secured his place in his first Masters semi-final.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.