Monte Carlo: Djokovic into record 77th Masters semi, Sinner strolls on

Top seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia reached the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals for the first time in nine years after a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 win over Australian 11th seed Alex de Minaur on Friday. Italy's Jannik Sinner also advanced after beating Danish Holger Rune of 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3 in the quarter-finals.

The Serb, nearly 37 years old, became the oldest semi-finalist in the tournament's history since 1968, and surpassed Spain's Rafael Nadal to make a record 77th Masters 1000 semi-final appearance. He will meet Norwegian eighth seed Casper Ruud who beat Frenchman Ugo Humbert.

"I'm very happy to be back in the semis, it's been a while. I love this tournament... another semis, look forward to it," he said. 

Djokovic struggled with consistency at the Country Club against De Minaur and dropped his serve three times. But De Minaur, who made Djokovic work and run a lot with his solid baseline game, had even more trouble with his serve.

De Minaur could not hold his nerve when it mattered the most. He hit five unforced errors when Djokovic broke to seal the opening set and could not withstand the pressure applied by the 24-time Grand Slam winner in the 10th game of the second set.

Meanwhile, second seed Sinner took the first set and looked destined to seal a straight-sets victory at 6-4 in the second set tiebreak, but Rune saved two match points once again, one with a superb cross-court forehand winner, before levelling the tie.

The final set went with serve until 4-3 when Sinner converted the decisive break point after Rune made a costly double-fault and the Italian held his nerve to serve out the contest.

Rune ousted Sinner in Monte Carlo last year to reach the final, but this time it was the Australian Open champion who prevailed as he reached a fifth semi-final in as many tournaments this year, en route to collect his fourth trophy of the season, having won already in Melbourne, Rotterdam, and Miami.

(With input from Reuters, AP)