Arm injury to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga sends Djokovic into Rogers final

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic advanced to the Rogers Cup final when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired from their semi-final on Saturday because of an apparent right arm injury.

Djokovic, who led 6-4, 3-0 when the Frenchman retired, faced sixth-seeded Mardy Fish in Montreal late last night.

"I don't think my game will significantly change," Djokovic said about Fish's serve-and-volley style. "I will play the game I always play - aggressive from the baseline, trying to take every chance to go for the shots.

"I think these conditions, which are a bit faster, are quite suitable to his style of game."

The Australian Open and Wimbledon champion is playing his first tournament since taking the top spot in the world rankings and improved his match record for the year to 52-1, including 28-0 on hard courts.

Djokovic, the Rogers Cup winner in 2007, is seeking his ninth tournament win of the year and his record fifth of the season in an ATP Masters event.

Tsonga, who took Djokovic to four tight sets in the Wimbledon semi-finals, indicated to the chair umpire there was a problem with his arm after losing his first service game of the second set.

After Djokovic held serve, Tsonga was examined by a doctor at courtside and decided to stop playing.

Tsonga said afterward that an ultrasound showed no tear in his muscle. He said the arm had been hurting for three days, but he opted to continue playing.

He said he hopes it will heal in time for next week's tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio, and, if not, by the US Open.

"The pain was worse day after day, hour after hour, on the court," he said. "You know, I don't have the pretension to try to beat Novak without my arm."

Earlier, Fish advanced to his third straight ATP Tour final, beating Janko Tipsarevic 6-3, 6-4.

The American has won 11 of his last 12 matches, winning at Atlanta last month and reaching the final two weeks ago in Los Angeles.

"I win a lot of matches because I can play a lot of different styles, I think," Fish said. "A faster surface like this is going to suit my game perfectly - a hard court where I've got my footing pretty good. My serve moves through the court well. You can come in. You can stay back a little bit, as well. But to be this successful, I have to play really well, too, and I've done that."

Fish's performance also helps his bid to be seeded high for the US Open later this month. He has a tournament in Cincinnati before the Open.

"I desperately wanted to go into the US Open in the top 10," he said. "I'm not sure where this puts me now or if it moves me at all. At least it gives me a little cushion against some of the guys that are coming up."