Nadal to meet Medvedev for Montreal title after Monfils injury

FILE PHOTO: Aug 9, 2019; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a shot against Fabio Fognini of Italy (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo

(Reuters) - Rafa Nadal will play Russia's Daniil Medvedev for the Rogers Cup title in Montreal on Sunday after injured Frenchman Gael Monfils withdrew from his semi-final match with the Spanish top seed on Saturday.

Medvedev topped Karen Khachanov in an all-Russian semi-final before Monfils announced he was no shape to face Nadal a couple of hours after injuring his left ankle in a quarter-final win over Roberto Bautista Agut.

Eighth seed Medvedev prevailed 6-1 7-6(6) over Khachanov in a victory that will make him Russia's top-ranked player on Monday but felt he should have finished his rival off earlier.

Aug 10, 2019; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Daniil Medvedev from Russia hits a shot against Karen Khachanov from Russia (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

"I played amazing, but there were two moments in the match I should have won easier," the 23-year-old Medvedev told ATP Tennis Radio.

"I was confident about myself and then there were some mistakes I should not have done. Finally, (I let Khachanov) back in the match."

Medvedev was upset at letting a break advantage slip away on two occasions in the second set, including at 5-4 as he tried to serve out the match.

Aug 10, 2019; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Gael Monfils of France explains to the crowd his forfeit of the semifinals game against Rafael Nadal of Spain (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

He also was unhappy that after he led the tie-break 2-1, Khachanov scored four consecutive points.

But Medvedev, who has not lost a set in the tournament, fought back to tie at 4-4 and after two more ties won the final two points and the match.

Frenchman Monfils also needed to win a tie-break to defeat Bautista Agut in the third set of their rain-delayed quarter-final match.

Aug 10, 2019; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Gael Monfils of France celebrates his win after the match against Roberto Bautista of Spain (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

Monfils won out 6-4 3-6 7-6(2) in a match that took two days to complete because of rain but the ankle injury was clearly hampering him and he withdrew from the tournament two hours later.

The ankle started bothering Monfils in the second set, but after a visit by a physio he elected to continue.

Bautista Agut won the set comfortably and the third went to a tie break which Monfils led 5-0 before sealing victory with a huge forehand winner after more than two hours.

Aug 10, 2019; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Gael Monfils of France hits a shot against Roberto Bautista of Spain (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

Monfils said he was proud of the way he played on against Bautista Agut.

"I think I showed today I was a fighter," he said.

Aug 10, 2019; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Roberto Bautista of Spain serves against Gael Monfils of France (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina, Editing by Ed Osmond/Nick Mulvenney)

Aug 10, 2019; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Gael Monfils of France serves against Roberto Bautista of Spain (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 10, 2019; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Roberto Bautista of Spain hits a shot against Gael Monfils of France (not pictured) during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports