Djokovic hits a return in the match against Djokovic

Top seed #Djokovic, title-winner in 2013, will aim for his fourth trophy of 2015 and 52nd overall on Sunday, taking on Tomas Berdych.

The sixth seed booked his place as Frenchman Gael Monfils came back to earth in a 6-1, 6-4 loss after a pair of big-match wins in previous rounds.

Djokovic trails Nadal 20-23 in their career series but has now won five of their last six meetings. They last played in the 2014 Roland Garros final, won by Nadal.

Monfils in the encounter with Berdych had shown little of the surprising form that took him to upset wins this week against second seed Roger Federer and Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

Instead, the Frenchman slumped to 23 unforced errors and lost serve four times.

The first set was a command performance for Berdych, the Czech emerged with the 2-1 lead as the second set began with three straight breaks and took victory in 68 minutes.

Berdych will be playing in his third final of the season after losing title bids in Doha and Rotteredm.

Berdych will be competing in a fourth career Masters 1000 final and first since losing to Federer in Madrid three years ago.

“I’m really glad to be in this final,” said Berdych, who kept Monfils from becoming the first Frenchman into the final in the principality since Cedric Pioline, a champion a decade and a half ago.

“My serve was working well and was key for me. I’m so happy to have won, this is something that I’ve always had in my mind at this event.”

The win was the sixth out of seven for Berdych over Monfils, who had his only success on the Roland Garros clay in 2012.

Berdych has reached the final without losing a set as he plays the tournament for the 11th time.