Novak Djokovic edges closer to stunning Rafael Nadal record

Serbia's Novak Djokovic has moved a step closer to matching an incredible record held by Rafael Nadal after winning his Cincinnati quarter-final.

Defending champion and top seed Novak Djokovic moved through to the Cincinnati Masters semi-finals at the expense of Lucas Pouille.

Pouille produced an impressive display but it was still not good enough as world number one Djokovic prevailed 7-6 (7-2) 6-1.

Djokovic was an immovable force despite Pouille's best efforts – the 16-time grand slam champion winning his 63rd Masters quarter-final.

The Serb is now just two victories away from clinching his 34th Masters 1000 trophy, which would put him just one behind Rafael Nadal's record of 35.

Djokovic is the defending champion in Cincinnati and having now made the semi-finals for the seventh time, is going to take some stopping.

"I thought he played really well throughout the first set. We both held our service games quite comfortably until the tie-break and then I just stayed in there, very focussed, didn’t drop my level. He did," Djokovic said. "[He] double faulted and missed a couple of forehands and obviously that cost him the tie-break."

The opening set was of the highest quality as Djokovic and Frenchman Pouille went toe-to-toe under the Cincinnati lights.

Pouille – who reached the Australian Open semis in January before losing to Djokovic – was not daunted by the Serbian star after fending off an early break point.

Djokovic's trademark tennis was on display, turning defence into attack, with the pair unable to be separated heading into a tie-break.

The first cracks appeared for Pouille, who could not maintain his charge as the relentless Djokovic raced out to a 5-1 lead and never looked back.

That knocked the wind out of Pouille's sails after the 2016 US Open quarter-finalist was broken for the first time in the match – Djokovic taking a 2-0 lead early in the second set.

Djokovic then saved three break points – his first of the match – following three double-faults in an eventful game to consolidate as Pouille saw a golden opportunity go begging.

There was only going to be one result from that point as Djokovic, who received some treatment on his elbow at the change of ends, set up a semi-final against Daniil Medvedev.

With agencies