Milos Raonic drops three-set decision to Novak Djokovic at Italian Open

Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns the ball during his semifinal match against Canada's Milos Raonic at the Italian open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 17, 2014. (AP / Alfredo Falcone, Lapresse)

ROME -- Canada's Milos Raonic dropped a three-set decision to Serbia's Novak Djokovic in men's semifinal play Saturday at the Italian Open.

Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., won the opening set before Djokovic fought back for a 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory in three hours at the Foro Italico.

"It was a tight match that was decided in the first two sets on a few points," Djokovic said. "He put a lot of pressure on my service games. And when you serve that well, you don't have as much pressure on your return games."

Raonic's powerful serve was in form -- he flirted with the 230 km/h mark at times and fired 17 aces.

"I can't recall the last time when I was feeling so helpless in the return games," Djokovic said. "It was brutal."

Djokovic will play the winner of the late semifinal between seven-time Rome champion Rafael Nadal and Grigor Dimitrov in Sunday's final.

Raonic had 55 winners against Djokovic but also made 42 unforced errors. The 23-year-old Canadian missed out on three break-point chances in the second set while Djokovic earned an early break in the third for a lead he wouldn't relinquish.

"He hits hard and flat and facing those shots was a struggle," Djokovic said. "This match was important for my confidence and strength within."

Raonic was hoping to reach his second career Masters 1000 final. He reached the Rogers Cup final last summer in Montreal but lost to Nadal.

Afterward, Djokovic appealed for help for his flood-hit native Serbia, and wrote a message of support on a camera lens, adding 'I love you' in Cyrillic.

"This is a total catastrophe of biblical proportions," he said. "Half the country is in danger of not having electricity."

In men's doubles action, Canada's Daniel Nestor and Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic reached the final with a 7-6 (3), 4-6, 12-10 win over Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States.

In women's play, Sara Errani became the first home player to reach the Italian Open final in nearly 30 years.

Using vocal crowd support to her advantage, the 10th-seeded Errani fought back from a 4-1 deficit in the second set for a 6-3, 7-5 win over sixth-seeded Jelena Jankovic, while Djokovic took his time before figuring out Milos Raonic's massive serve for a 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory.

Errani's opponent in Sunday's final will be either defending champion Serena Williams or 11th-seeded Ana Ivanovic, who were playing later.

Errani drew emotion from the crowd.

"There were a few moments when I thought I might not pull it off but the fans were huge," said Errani, who is attempting to become the first Italian to win the tournament since Raffaella Reggi took the 1985 title in Taranto.

The last Italian man to win was Adriano Panatta back in 1976.

It's already Errani's best result since reaching the 2012 French Open final, and gives her momentum heading back to Roland Garros next week.

Jankovic, the 2007 and 2008 Rome champion, repeatedly asked the chair umpire to come down and check marks but none of them were overturned, resulting only in the crowd stepping up its encouragement for Errani.

"Just do it, Sara. Just do it, Sara," the fans cheered late in the second set.

The highly partisan crowd frequently applauded Errani while points were still being played and cheered even when Jankovic double faulted.

"(The crowd) was all on her side but it's normal, she's the local player," Jankovic said. "I tried to stay focused on my game, and play my tennis but she was the better player today."

Errani also reached the doubles final and her partner Roberta Vinci sat in her box. Her parents and brother were on hand, too.

"Having them here is key," Errani said. "They give me that extra motivation so I'm not just playing for myself but for them, too, and that makes me even stronger."

Known for her consistency, Errani committed just 11 unforced errors to Jankovic's 28.

Jankovic attempted to attack Errani's abbreviated serving style but she had more trouble on her own serve, and faced 16 break points -- five of which Errani converted.

"She's not going to give you free points," Jankovic said. "She keeps making you hit and hit and I needed to come more to the net and finish those points. When I was doing that I was winning but when I stopped she took advantage."