Dimitrov faces Troicki in Sydney final

Grigor Dimitrov and Viktor Troicki mastered rain disruptions to win two matches each on Friday to reach the final of the Sydney International.

Bulgaria's Dimitrov downed Alexsandr Dolgopolov and Gilles Muller to reach his first ATP final in 14 months, while Serb Troicki defeated Nicolas Mahut and Teimuraz Gabashvili to move into his second straight Sydney final.

Rain forced suspensions of their quarter-finals Thursday forcing the remaining men's players to double up on Friday to set up Saturday's decider.

Fourth seed Dimitrov, a former Wimbledon semi-finalist, accounted for eighth seed Dolgopolov, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and then followed up with a 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Luxembourg's Muller to reach the final.

Third seed and defending champion Troicki fought back from a set down to oust Mahut 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and then took out Russian Gabashvili 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

"It's been good day in the office for me," Dimitrov said.

"I was pretty tired yesterday. Four times on and off the court... When I came back today I felt good as new.

"Then coming out the second match was... just a new day for me."

Dimitrov beat Troicki in three sets in the second round of last week's Brisbane International and said he was confident of repeating the dose in the Sydney final.

"Last week I was down a set and a break against him. He plays good tennis.

"I think the match is pretty even up. Of course, I like the odds on my side. Been playing better each match and feeling confident with each win, so that really helps a lot coming into a final."

Troicki, who beat Mikhail Kukushkin in last year's Sydney final, said he handled the rain delays well.

"Yeah, it was a good day, successful day. I played think good tennis considering the conditions today. Tough mentally going on and off the court all the time," Troicki said.

"I feel fine. I feel fit. This is what I worked for the last month and a bit more, since got here, for the preparations in Australia."

Source: AFP