Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will face off in a second claycourt final within eight days at the Italian Open after the two in-form players proved on Saturday they will be the ones to beat at the season's second grand slam in Roland Garros.
Murray made it through to his first Rome final with a clinical 6-2 6-1 win over unseeded Frenchman Lucas Pouille while world No.1 Djokovic showed his staying power in a 2-6 6-4 7-6(5) victory over Japanese sixth seed Kei Nishikori.
"Any time you get the chance to play the best players, especially right before a slam, is great preparation," Murray, who has won just one of his past 13 matches against Djokovic, said.
Murray, who lost to Djokovic in the Madrid final last weekend, continued his fine form by keeping his concentration through two rain delays and taking just shy of an hour to dispose of qualifier Pouille.
The 22-year-old Frenchman has an exciting future but the gap with twice grand slam champion Murray was painfully evident.
The second seeded Scot has yet to drop a set this week.
"Clay is not my most natural surface but because of the wins I've had on it in the last few years ... I believe that I can compete with the best players on this surface now," Murray said.
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