FINAL PREVIEW: The Miami Open championship on Sunday features World No. 1 and five-time Miami Open champion Novak Djokovic against No. 6 Kei Nishikori, who is trying to win his first career ATP Masters 1000 title. Djokovic has not lost a set while Nishikori has dropped one set en route to the final. Djokovic is attempting to win a record 28th career ATP Masters 1000 crown and tie Andre Agassi’s tournament mark of six titles. Djokovic has won the last five meetings and owns a  6-2 overall advantage in the FedEx ATP Head 2 Heads.

Djokovic has won 15 straight matches in Miami (29 of the last 30 back to 2011) since a 4R loss to Tommy Haas in 2013. He comes in with a 27-1 match record on the season. Djokovic is appearing in his seventh Miami final (5-1) and is attempting to become the first player to win three straight Miami titles since Agassi from 2001-03. Djokovic, co-leader (w/Nadal) with 27 career ATP Masters 1000 titles, has reached the final in his last 11 ATP Masters 1000 tournaments played (DNP ’15 Madrid) going back to 2014 Paris-Bercy. During that stretch, he has compiled a 55-2 record.

Nishikori, who saved five match points in his QF win over Gael Monfils on Thursday, is appearing in his second career ATP Masters 1000 final (’14 Madrid ret. vs. Nadal). The 26-year-old Japanese star is attempting to become the first Asian player to win an ATP Masters 1000 title. Nishikori is trying to become the first non-Big Four winner in Miami since Andy Roddick in 2010. The last non-Big Four ATP Masters 1000 champion was Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Toronto in 2014. Nishikori is 2-9 lifetime against World No. 1 opponents with both wins coming over Djokovic in 2011 Basel SF and 2014 US Open SF. He is 0-4 vs. Nadal and 2-5 vs. Djokovic when they ranked No. 1.

WHAT’S AT STAKE: Winner – $1,028,300 and 1,000 Emirates ATP Rankings points
Runner-up     $501,815 and 600 Emirates ATP Rankings points  

FINALS HISTORY:     
Djokovic is bidding for a 28th ATP Masters 1000 title (27-12) and 63rd career title (62-26)
Nishikori is bidding for a 1st ATP Masters 1000 title (0-1) and 12th career title (11-5)    

ATP MASTERS 1000 TITLE LEADERS: Djokovic is trying to become the new career ATP Masters 1000 titles leader, passing Nadal with his 28th title.

INDIAN WELLS, MIAMI TITLE SWEEP: Since 1991, seven players have won the first two ATP Masters 1000 events of the season (10 times) in Indian Wells and Miami. Djokovic is the only player to win both titles in the same year three times (2011, ’14-15). He’s trying to accomplish the feat for the third year in a row and fourth overall.

BIG FOUR DOMINATION: In 49 of the last 53 ATP Masters 1000 tournaments (since ’10 Monte-Carlo), one of the Big Four: Djokovic, Murray, Federer and Nadal have lifted the trophy. During that stretch, Djokovic have won 22 titles, Nadal 12, Federer 8 and Murray 7. The last non-Big Four winner in Miami was Andy Roddick in 2010. The only exceptions came at ’10 Paris-Bercy (Soderling), ‘12 Paris-Bercy (Ferrer) and in 2014 in Monte-Carlo (Wawrinka) and Toronto (Tsonga). This is the 29th straight ATP Masters 1000 tournament at least one member of Big Four has reached the final. Last time without a Big Four in final (’12 Paris-Bercy: Ferrer d. Janowicz).

40 MATCH WINS CLUB: Djokovic won his 40th career match in Miami on Wednesday and he is one win away from tying Sampras for third place on the tournament’s all-time match wins list, behind only Agassi (61) and Federer (44).

PRIZE MONEY LEADERS: If Djokovic wins the title, he will earn $1,028,300 and surpass Federer as the all-time prize money leader on the ATP World Tour.
                 Coming into Miami    If Wins Title    
Federer        $97,855,881        —————-
Djokovic        $97,171,248        $98,199,548

FINAL FEDEX ATP HEAD 2 HEAD
[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs [6] Kei Nishikori (JPN)        Djokovic Leads 6-2

Djokovic 2016 FastFacts:
W(3): Doha (d Nadal); Australian Open (d Murray); ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells (d Raonic);           QF: Dubai (l Lopez)
YTD W-L: 27-1 (27-1 on hard)
YTD Titles: 3 / Career Titles: 62
Date of Birth: May 22, 1987
Emirates ATP Ranking: 1
Miami W-L (Best Result-Year): 41-5 (Winner – 2007, ’11-12, ’14-15)

• The 28-year-old Serb comes into his 7th Miami final (5-1) in 11 yrs. with a 41-5 career record. He has not dropped a set in wins over Edmund 63 63 (after 1R bye), No. 33 seed Sousa 64 61, No. 14 Thiem 63 64 (saving 14 of 15 BPs), No. 7 Berdych 63 63 and No. 15 Goffin 76(5) 64. Has won his last 15 matches in Miami since losing to No. 18 Haas in 4R 2013. Since 2011, has a 29-1 record
• Last year defeated No. 7 Ferrer (QF) and No. 4 Murray (F) to win his 5th Miami title (second behind Agassi-6). Trying to become 1st three-peat winner since Agassi from 2001-03
• In 2014, beat No. 6 Murray (QF) and No. 1 Nadal (F) to earn fourth title. Has a 4-1 record vs. Murray, 3-0 vs. Nadal and 1-0 vs. Federer (10-2 overall vs. Top 10 foes). Overall, has won 20 of last 21 matches vs. Top 10 going back to last year’s US Open
• In 2007, became youngest winner in tournament history (at 19 yrs., 314 days) and did not drop a set (d. Canas) en route to first ATP Masters 1000 title. Won 2nd title in 2011 (d. No. 1 Nadal) and repeated in ’12 (d. No. 4 Murray). Also reached final in 2009 (d. No. 2 Federer, l. to No. 4 Murray)
• Comes in with a 27-1 match record on the season and ATP World Tour-leading three titles. Won record-tying 5th title (w/Federer) at ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells (d. Raonic). It was also his 27th career ATP Masters 1000 crown (tied w/Nadal) and has reached final in last 11 Masters 1000 events played (DNP ’15 Madrid) going back to ’14 Paris-Bercy. Has 8-2 record in finals and 55-2 record during stretch
• Trying to reach 19th final in last 21 tournaments since beginning of 2015. Has compiled a 109-7 match record (39-5 vs. Top 10) in 21 tournaments (including Miami), winning 14 titles in 18 finals over that span. Appearing in 40th ATP Masters 1000 final (27-12) and aiming for record 28th Masters 1000 title
• Has held No. 1 the 5th-most weeks (192) in history of Emirates ATP Rankings. Has been No. 1 every week since July 7, 2014 (91 straight weeks as of Mar. 28) and will reach 200 week mark on May 23
• Captured 60th career title to start season at Doha, not dropping a set all week (d. No. 5 Nadal
• Then tied Emerson’s all-time record with 6th Australian Open title (d. No. 2 Murray). Moved into tie with
Laver and Borg for 5th all-time with 11 Grand Slam men’s singles titles. Won a 5-set match en route to title for 7th time at a major, overcoming 100 unforced errors in 4R (d. Simon)
• Became 3rd active player (Federer, Nadal) to reach 700 wins by beating Jaziri in Dubai 2R on Feb. 24. Has 713 career match wins, tying coach Boris Becker for No. 11 on Open Era wins list
• Fell 1 shy of Lendl’s Open-Era record 18 straight finals when eye problem forced retirement in Dubai QF (vs. Lopez). Had not retired since ‘11 Davis Cup SF vs. del Potro, a stretch of 350 matches (318-32)
• Beat Nedovyesov (in 3) and Kukushkin (in 5) to lead Serbia to a 3-2 Davis Cup win over Kazakhstan

Nishikori 2016 FastFacts:
W: Memphis (d Fritz); QF(3): Brisbane (l Tomic); Australian Open (l Djokovic); ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells (l Nadal)
YTD W-L: 19-5 (19-5 on hard)
YTD Titles: 1 / Career Titles: 11
Date of Birth: December 29, 1989
Emirates ATP Ranking: 6
Miami W-L (Best Result-Year): 17-5 (Finalist – 2016)

• The 26-year-old Japanese star is making his first final appearance after wins over French qualifier Herbert 62 76(4), No. 27 Dolgopolov 62 62, No. 17 Bautista Agut 62 64, No. 16 Monfils 46 63 76(3), saving 5 MPs, and No. 24 Kyrgios 63 75. Owns a 17-5 record and reached SF two years ago (W/O vs. Djokovic after wins over No. 4 Ferrer in 4R & No. 5 Federer in QF). Last year reached QF (l. to Isner). Also 4R in 2012 (l. to No. 2 Nadal) & ’13 (l. to No. 5 Ferrer). Three of his 5 losses have come to Top 5
• Trying to become first player to win maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Miami since Djokovic in 2007 (d. Canas). Agassi also won his first Masters 1000 crown in Miami in 1990 (d. Edberg)
• In last tournament at ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells, reached QF (l. to Nadal), his 10th career QF-better in an ATP Masters 1000 event. Has a 62-35 career record in Masters 1000 events (2-5 in SFs)). His lone ATP Masters 1000 final came in Madrid in May 2014 (ret. vs. Nadal)
• In February, earned 4th straight Memphis title, extended win streak at event to 17 matches (d. Fritz)
• Advanced to 3rd Australian Open QF of career (d. No. 10 Tsonga, l. to No. 1 Djokovic)
• Beat Evans before falling to No. 2 Murray in 5 sets, snapping 12-match Davis Cup win streak (GBR d. JPN 3-1)
• Reached Brisbane QF (l. to Tomic) and Acapulco 2R (l. to Querrey)
• Has a 27-43 career record vs. Top 10 opponents, including 2-9 vs. World No. 1s. He is 2-5 vs. Djokovic with wins coming in 2011 Basel SF and 2014 US Open SF, and 0-4 vs. Nadal

France’s Nicolas Mahut hardly could comprehend all the success his doubles team is having.

Two weeks ago, he and compatriot Pierre-Hugues Herbert were giving victory speeches in Indian Wells after winning the year’s first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament. On Saturday, they were saying thanks in South Florida after winning the Miami Open presented by Itau, another Masters 1000 event. The Frenchmen beat American Rajeev Ram and South African Raven Klaasen 5-7, 6-1, 10-7 on Saturday afternoon. Herbert and Mahut became the first doubles team to win Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back since Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan did in 2014.

“Winning last week in Indian Wells was already fantastic but winning back-to-back, Indian Wells and here, it’s maybe too much,” Mahut said. “I don’t know what to say. It’s great for us.”

The Frenchmen have now won 10 consecutive matches and four tour-level titles as a team. For Mahut, the Miami victory gives him his 13^th doubles title; Herbert earned his fifth. They won Miami with a comeback that featured stellar serving and controlled net play.

Herbert and Mahut had four break chances in the first set, but Ram and Klaasen erased them. The American and South African used their only break chance at 6-5 to win the set.

The second set, though, was all France. After losing the final eight points of the first set, the Frenchmen won the next eight points, including a service break. They broke Ram and Klaasen two more times and more than doubled their point total – 26-12 – in the second set to level the match.

Mahut and Herbert carried their momentum into the match tie-break. Serving at 7-5, Mahut sliced a second serve out wide on the deuce court for an ace to give the French team some margin. A Mahut forehand volley winner gave them the championship.

For the match, Mahut and Herbert landed 70 per cent of their first serves and won 72 per cent of those points. They also won a high percentage of their second serve points – 71.

“It’s a dream come true for us to be playing at this level of doubles,” Herbert said.

They will receive 1,000 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points and split $336,920 in prize money.

Ram and Klaasen achieved their best showing at a Masters 1000 tournament and of late. Ram was playing in his first Masters 1000 final; Klaasen, his second. The doubles team also had lost in the first round at their three prior tournaments (Acapulco, Delray Beach, Indian Wells.) The two will receive 600 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points and split $164,420 in prize money.

Top seed Novak Djokovic is poised to make Sunday a historic day at the Miami Open presented by Itau. Two weeks after drawing level with Rafael Nadal for the all-time ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title lead, lifting his 27th trophy, the World No. 1 has a chance to assume sole ownership with a third consecutive championship in South Florida.

The Masters 1000 series is the benchmark for success on the ATP World Tour. In May 2010, Nadal pulled even with Andre Agassi when he captured his 17th crown at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, and for the past six years he has owned at least a share of the title lead.

Djokovic will face a surging Kei Nishikori in Sunday’s final, squaring off for the ninth time in their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry. The Serb has claimed the previous five encounters, including a straight-sets victory in this year’s Australian Open quarter-finals. The top seed is ready.

“He looks very mature on the court, very experienced, as well,” Djokovic said of Nishikori. “He’s somebody that has been around and played so many matches on the big stage. I don’t see him being too overwhelmed or nervous about the occasion.

“I think even though he has played only one [ATP World Tour Masters 1000] final, he’s played many other big finals, a Grand Slam final. He’s been around for many years.”

ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Title Leaders

The sixth-seeded Japanese will hope to dethrone Djokovic from his Miami perch. The two-time defending champion is vying to achieve a three-peat at a record seventh different tour-level event, having already accomplished the feat at the Australian Open, Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Paris, and the 500 series events in Beijing and Dubai. Djokovic is also one match victory from moving past coach Boris Becker for 11th place on the Open Era wins list. Both players are currently tied with 713 victories.

With plenty at stake, Nishikori is ready for the challenge.

“If I can maintain this [level of] tennis in the final, I think I have a chance to win the title,” Nishikori said. “Obviously he’s playing really good tennis from last week, in Indian Wells, and also here. I know it’s going to be tough. But I have to discuss with my team what I have to do against him and what I can do better.

“I have a good confidence to play him. He’s at a little bit different level right now from last year, but if I can play another good match, aggressive and also patient, I think I have a chance. I will have to play 100 per cent or 120 per cent to beat him, but I will try to enjoy my first final here.”

Nishikori is contesting his second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final, having retired due to injury against Rafael Nadal in the Madrid title match in 2014. Nearly two years later, fitness issues are a thing of the past for the Japanese, and his endurance was on full display in outlasting Gael Monfils in a two-hour and 30-minute marathon in Thursday’s quarter-finals. He would save five match points to prevail in oppressive heat and humidity.

“I’m happy to be here in the final for the first time in Miami. I have been playing well this tournament so I’m not surprised that I’m here. Tomorrow I have to really focus and think of what I have to do against him and work on some stuff to play good tennis on Sunday. I know it’s going to be a tough match, but I will try to recover and have fun in the final.”