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ROME : Novak Djokovic is through to the final of the Rome Masters to face Stanislas Wawrinka after his semi-final opponent Radek Stepanek retired when trailing 6-0, 1-0 on Saturday.
It meant that both semi-finals ended early after Andy Roddick had pulled out of the first semi-final following just three games.
Stepanek put up next to no resistence in the first set, seemingly struggling with his physical condition.
He was a shadow of the player who was so positive against world number one Roger Federer on Friday.
There was none of the powerful serving and deep forehands that had caused so many problems for the Swiss Master.
Instead Djokovic dictated play from the off and Stepanek seemed to be helping his cause, double-faulting to hand the Serbian third seed the first set when already trailing 5-0, 40-0.
He received lengthy treatment at the end of that set but managed just one more game before quitting, much to the chagrin of the Rome crowd.
It was the second match in a row in which Djokovic was afforded comfortable progress after Spaniard Nicolas Almagro pulled out of their quarter-final at the exact same stage, after one game of the second set.
- AFP /ls
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