PARIS — Defending champion David Ferrer stunned world No. 1 Rafael Nadal 6-3, 7-5 to reach the Paris Masters final Saturday. Ferrer will face Novak Djokovic, who beat Roger Federer 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in Sunday's final. Ferrer broke for a 3-1 lead and went a set up with a low forehand volley. He then capitalized on a wide forehand from Nadal to lead 2-1 in the second set. The defending champion saved five break points in that set but failed to serve out the match at 5-4, allowing Nadal to break back. Nadal gave Ferrer another chance as he hit a forehand long to drop serve. Ferrer went on to seal the victory with a forehand winner. Djokovic extended his winning streak to 16 matches as he came back from a set down to defeat Federer. The six-time Grand Slam winner, who last suffered defeat in the US Open final against Nadal, overcame an inspired Federer in just over two hours. The 26-year-old Belgrade native had to reach the final in the French capital to have a chance of snatching back top spot from Nadal at next week's World Tour Finals. “Every time we play it's a great match, challenging and intense,” said Djokovic. “He was better than me in the first set and it wasn't easy. I just had to stay confident and focussed and wait for my chances. “I was serving well and just kept patient and in the end it paid off,” he added Del Potro robbed in Paris Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro was robbed of a briefcase as he signed an autograph at Gard du Nord in Paris Saturday on his way to London for next week's ATP World Tour Finals. “I was checking in for the (Eurostar) train and I was asked for an autograph. I turned round to sign it and in those 20 seconds I had (the case) stolen,” Del Potro said in a statement. The world No. 5 kept his passport, money and other personal effects, including a rosary, in the briefcase. “My rosary, blessed by Pope Francis, which I took with me everywhere, that's what mattered to me most,” said Del Potro, who met the Argentine-born Pope during the Italian Open in Rome earlier in the year. Djoko, Federer in same group Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer cross swords again next week at the World Tour Finals. The pair are drawn in Group B at the season-closing tournament in London with Juan Martin del Potro and Richard Gasquet. World No. 1 Rafael Nadal tops Group A where he will come up against David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych and Stanislas Wawrinka. Djokovic is gunning for his third title in the event after wins in 2008 and 2012. Federer, a six-time Finals winner, is making his 12th straight appearance in the Tour Finals. Italy leads Russia 2-0 in final Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani struggled but prevailed in the opening singles against an under-strength Russia to put Italy on the brink of a fourth Fed Cup title Saturday. Vinci beat Alexandra Panova 5-7, 7-5, 8-6 and Errani, playing in her second Fed Cup final, defeated Irina Khromacheva, 6-1, 6-4. — Agencies
