TORONTO, Aug 13: World number one Roger Federer battled his way to a 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 win over Fernando Gonzalez at the Toronto Masters on Saturday to reach his 17th straight tournament final.

Back in action for the first time since claiming his fourth consecutive Wimbledon crown, Federer was severely tested by the 15th seeded Chilean but the Swiss stood firm to stretch his winning run on North American hard courts to 53 matches.

Standing between Federer and a 40th career title is young Frenchman Richard Gasquet, who earlier reached his second career Masters Series final with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over 19-year-old Briton Andy Murray.

Saturday’s results:

Semi-finals: 1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat 15-Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) 6-1, 5-7, 6-3; Richard Gasquet (France) beat Andy Murray (Britain) 6-2, 7-5.

SHARAPOVA, SERENA LOSE

LOS ANGELES: The prospect of a dream Los Angeles Open final between top seed Maria Sharapova and twice champion Serena Williams evaporated on Saturday when both players were upset in the semi-finals.

A fatigued Sharapova, chasing a second successive WTA Tour title, lost 7-5, 6-2 to fellow Russian Elena Dementieva while Williams, playing her third event of the year because of a knee injury, was beaten 6-4, 6-3 by Serbian Jelena Jankovic.

Results:

Semi-finals: 16-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia & Montenegro) beat Serena Williams (US) 6-4, 6-3; 3-Elena Dementieva (Russia) beat 1-Maria Sharapova (Russia) 7-5, 6-2.—Reuters