Novak Djokovic to face Andy Murray in Rome final after battling past Kei Nishikori in epic match

The world number one is on course for a fifth title at the Rome event after managing to outlast Japan's Nishikori over three hours and one minutes in a match that saw him pushed to the limits by a gutsy opponent, whose ball striking was exceptional in the evening air of the Eternal City.

He will meet Murray for the second straight Sunday in a Masters final after overcoming Britain's world number three a week ago over three sets in the Madrid Masters final.

Murray reached the final earlier in the day with a 6-2 6-1 win over Frenchman Lucas Pouille in a rain-disrupted contest that lasted only 59 minutes.

The Scot - who turns 29 on Sunday - has suffered defeat in 12 of his past 13 matches with Djokovic, but is at least in peak form for this latest duel with his rival, who will be tested to the limits of his physical reserves in facing another final only a week before the French Open begins in Paris.