( CNN ) -- Novak Djokovic fought like a true champion to extend his winning run to 36 matches this year as he reached the final of the Rome Masters at the expense of Andy Murray on Saturday . The Serbian triumphed 6-1 3-6 7-6 ( 7-2 ) in a three-hour semifinal epic to set up another showdown with world No . 1 Rafael Nadal , a player he has beaten in three Masters Series title matches this season . Second-ranked Djokovic ended the Spaniard 's two-year unbeaten run on clay in the Madrid final , but it remains to be seen whether he has enough energy in reserve to repeat that on Sunday . Nadal had a much easier passage as he defeated French 16th seed Richard Gasquet 7-5 6-1 in 93 minutes , ending the run of a player who had earlier beaten his longtime rival Roger Federer and seventh seed Tomas Berdych . Djokovic 's dream year shows no sign of slowing . Djokovic had to dig deep as Murray showed tremendous resolve after capitulating in the first set -- a showing that raised the prospect of a repeat of his Australian Open final defeat against the same player in January . But the fourth seed -- who turns 24 on Sunday -- battled back to level , inflicting Djokovic 's first dropped set of the tournament , and then fought back again after going down 3-1 in the decider . Murray , seeking to become the first British player to reach a top-level clay final since 1982 , broke Djokovic 's serve twice in a row -- the second time to love - as he went 4-3 ahead . But Djokovic , who could have gone top in the rankings if Nadal had not reached the last four , broke back immediately . Both players then dropped serve again -- Murray after a morale-sapping double fault -- but then held to take the match to a tie-break . Djokovic had appeared to be on his last legs at several stages , but appeared rejuvenated as he raced to a 5-1 lead before reaching the final of an event he won in 2008 . He then roared with relief at an appreciative crowd as he showed just how much the victory meant to him ahead of his own 24th birthday on May 22 . Nadal beat Djokovic in the 2009 Rome final , and has won the event for five of the past six years . But his status as `` King of Clay '' is under serious threat this year ahead of the French Open starting next month , where he is defending champion and seeking a sixth title since 2005 . `` I am playing better every day and a little bit higher , so I think that in general I am happy for everything , '' Nadal , who was hampered by illness earlier this week , told the ATP Tour website . `` I 'm in another final , six in a row , and it is unbelievable . I had a tough week , so I am very happy for everything . ''
World No . 1 Novak Djokovic to play top - ranked Rafael Nadal in Rome final . Serbian overcomes fourth seed Andy Murray in epic semifinal clash for 36th win of 2011 . Nadal has fewer problems in facing Roger Federer 's conqueror Richard Becker . He ended Becker 's four - year unbeaten run on clay in Madrid final .