ROME — Number two seed Novak Djokovic set up a semifinal meeting with Canada's Milos Raonic at the Rome Masters after ousting Spain's David Ferrer 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 Friday. After dominating a hard-fought opening set, the Serbian was outplayed in the second and had to overcame a few wobbles on his way to wrapping up the match in 2hr 31min. Leading 3-1 in the deciding set, Djokovic allowed his Spanish rival to break back to 3-3 before serving to take a 4-3 lead. Despite some resistance from Ferrer in a thrilling eighth game, Djokovic broke back when he sent a powerful drive past the Spaniard and into the corner to take a 5-3 lead. Ferrer was equally defiant in the final game, but after saving two break points the Spaniard capitulated when he netted what looked like an easy return. Earlier, Raonic claimed his last-four spot with a commanding 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 quarterfinal win over Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. Chardy had eliminated Swiss fourth seed Roger Federer Wednesday 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6). But after seeing the unseeded Frenchman fighting back to level by winning a close second set, Raonic regained control of the match in a largely one-sided third set to advance. Also reaching the last four was Grigor Dimitrov, who celebrated his 23rd birthday with a win when 36-year-old Tommy Haas retired after losing the first set 6-2 due to a right shoulder injury. Dimitrov's semifinal opponent will be either Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray. Italy's No. 10 seed Sara Errani, meanwhile, benefited from huge crowd support as she stunned China's No. 2 seed Li Na 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. Errani has now made the semis for the second consecutive year, keeping her on course to become the first Italian woman since Raffaella Reggi 29 years ago to win the tournament when it was held in Taranto. The Italian will meet Serbian Jelena Jankovic, who beat Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-4, 6-4. They were joined in the last four by Ana Ivanovic, who beat Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro, seeded 13, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Ivanovic will meet either defending champion and top seed Serena Williams of the US or China's Zhang Shuai. On Thursday Djokovic came from a set down to beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. Scurrying fifth-seeded Ferrer ground down Latvia's Ernests Gulbis 6-2, 6-3. In women's play, reigning champion Serena Williams brushed aside Varvara Lepchenko 6-1, 6-2. French wild cards Australian teenagers Nick Kyrgios and Ashleigh Barty were among 16-players, mostly French, who received wild cards for the French Open starting on May 25. The teenagers will be playing at Roland Garros for the second time after both reached the second round as wild cards last year. French players Michael Llodra, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Pauline Parmentier and Mathilde Johansson also received wild cards for the second Grand Slam of the season. Other wild cards in the men's event were attributed to French players Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Axel Michon, Albano Olivetti and Lucas Pouille and former world 15th-ranked American Robby Ginepri, now 275th. Other women's wild cards went to French players Fiona Ferro, Claire Feuerstein, Amandine Hesse, Alize Lim and American Taylor Townsend. — Agencies
