Djokovic dumps Pouille to reach Cincinnati semis

Cincinnati - Novak Djokovic controlled Lucas Pouille 7-6 (7/2), 6-1 on Friday to move closer to a second straight title at the ATP Cincinnati Masters.

The top seed, won the 15th of his last 16 matches as he beat the Frenchman for the second time this season after a win in the Australian Open semi-finals.

Djokovic will play for a final berth on Saturday against Russian Daniil Medvedev, losing finalist last week in Canada against Rafael Nadal.

Results on Friday from the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters tournament (x denotes weeding):

Men

Quarter-finals

Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Lucas Pouille (FRA) 7-6 (7/2), 6-1

Daniil Medvedev (RUS x9) bt Andrey Rublev (RUS) 6-2, 6-3

Richard Gasquet (FRA) bt Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x11) 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 6-2

David Goffin (BEL x16) bt Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) walkover

Women

Quarter finals

Ashleigh Barty (AUS x1) bt Maria Sakkari (GRE) 5-7, 6-2, 6-0

Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) bt Karolina Pliskova (CZE x3) 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3

Madison Keys (USA x16) bt Venus Williams (USA) 6-2, 6-3

Sofia Kenin (USA) bt Naomi Osaka (JPN x2) 6-4, 1-6, 2-0 retired