World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will try to add another title to his stellar 2011 resume on Sunday when he takes on No. 4 Andy Murray for the ATP's Cincinnati Masters crown. Serbia's Djokovic claimed his 57th match victory of the season - against just one defeat - with an abbreviated semi-final victory over Tomas Berdych.
He advanced after taking the first set 7-5 when the eighth-seeded Czech retired with a sore right shoulder. On Sunday Djokovic will be gunning for his 10th title of 2011 and a sixth prestigious Masters title this season.
Murray, meanwhile, had to battle to hold off top American Mardy Fish 6-3, 7-6 (10/8) to give himself a shot at a second title this season, to go with his victory on the grass courts of the Queen's Club in June. Scotland's Murray acknowledged that taking on the all-conquering Djokovic would be daunting, but said it would be just what he needs as he hones his game for the US Open that starts on August 29 in New York.
"I think it would be perfect preparation to play him before the US Open, to see what I need to work on," Murray said. "I think it'll be a good match for both of us at this stage. I feel like I can beat him. I've done it before and had quite a lot of chances. I probably should have won against him in Rome earlier this year on clay.
"But I'll have to play well."
Murray cruised through the first set against Fish, but then found himself in a battle in the hot, humid weather.
Murray, who was bounced in his opening match at the Montreal Masters last week, held on to win in 2hrs 18min - capturing the tiebreaker after the two had exchanged six service breaks in the second set.
Fish, meanwhile, appeared to be favouring a sore heel that has bothered him earlier this season. However, the American insisted the uncomfortable ailment "did not affect the outcome of the match".
After the rash of service breaks, Fish fended off a triple break point in the 11th game of the second set.
Sunday's women's final will see fourth-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova taking on 13th-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia. Sharapova shrugged off a slow start to beat second-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, while Jankovic ousted ninth-seeded German Maria Petkovic 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.
Sharapova will be vying for a second title of 2011, after triumphing in Rome earlier this year. She will also be trying to improve on her runner-up finish here last year, when she lost to Belgian Kim Clijsters.