Djokovic Into Miami 2016 Final
Djokovic Into Miami 2016 Final
Apr012016
ATPWorldTour.com previews Friday semi-final action at the Miami Open presented by Itau
The semi-finals on Friday are headlined by World No. 1 and five-time Miami Open champion Novak Djokovic along with three players trying to capture their first career ATP Masters 1000 title: No. 6 Kei Nishikori, No. 15 David Goffin and No. 24 seed Nick Kyrgios. This is the first time since 2007 there are two double digit seeds in the Miami semi-finals.
In the first semi-final, Djokovic brings a 3-0 career head-to-head record against Goffin, who is the first Belgian man to reach the semi-finals in the tournament’s 32-year history. He’s appearing in his second straight ATP Masters 1000 semi-final (l. to Raonic in Indian Wells). The 25-year-old Belgian has only been broken twice in 39 service games while breaking opponents 15 times en route to SF.
Djokovic has won 14 straight matches in Miami (28 of the last 29 back to 2011) since a 4R loss to Tommy Haas in 2013. He comes in with a 26-1 match record on the season. Djokovic, who is trying to reach his seventh Miami final (5-1), is chasing Andre Agassi’s tournament record six titles. Agassi is also the last player to win three straight titles from 2001-03. Djokovic, co-leader (w/Nadal) with 27 career ATP Masters 1000 titles, has reached the final in his last 10 ATP Masters 1000 tournaments (DNP ’15 Madrid) going back to 2014 Paris-Bercy. During that stretch, he has compiled a 54-2 record.
In the evening match, Nishikori and Next Generation star Kyrgios meet for the second time. Nishikori won the previous meeting 16 64 64 in the 2R at ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai last October. Nishikori, who saved five match points in his QF win over Gael Monfils on Thursday, is appearing in the Miami SF for the second time in three years. He is trying to reach his second career ATP Masters 1000 final (’14 Madrid). Kyrgios, who has not dropped a set en route to his maiden ATP Masters 1000 SF, is the first Australian to reach the Miami SF since Lleyton Hewitt in 2002 (l. to Federer). He’s trying to become the first Aussie to reach the final in tournament history. The 20-year-old will crack the Top 20 in the Emirates ATP Rankings next Monday. He will become the youngest in the Top 20 since 20-year-old Marin Cilic on Sept. 21, 2009.
DOUBLE-DIGIT SEEDS IN SEMI-FINALS – There are two double digit seeds in the semi-finals for the first time since 2007 when No. 10 Djokovic defeated No. 12 Murray. Djokovic went on to win the title and he’s the last double digit seed champion in Miami. It’s the seventh straight year at least one double digit seed has advanced to the semi-finals here:
Aussie into semi-finals
Nick Kyrgios, in his ATP World Tour Masters 1000 quarter-final debut, overcame big-serving Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-6(4) at the Miami Open presented by Itau on Thursday. Kyrgios converted one of six break points and became the only man to break the Canadian in Miami. He will face Kei Nishikori in the semi-finals.
“I really learned how to return this year,” Kyrgios said. “That definitely set the tone early in the match, and helped me win the first set with that break in hand. That’s the major thing this year. I am giving myself so many more chances and getting so many more opportunities to take over matches.”
Kyrgios showed that he was more than a power hitter, reading Raonic’s serve smartly and restricting his opponent to four aces in the one-hour, 44-minute encounter. He also took care of his own service games, firing eight aces and saving all five break points faced.
The Next Generation star is the first Australian since mentor Lleyton Hewitt (2002 – l. to Federer) to make the final four in Miami. He will also crack the Top 20 Emirates ATP Rankings for the first time next Monday, becoming the youngest player to achieve the feat since Marin Cilic did so in September 2009.
“Kei is one of the greatest players in the world at the moment,” said Kyrgios of his semi-final opponent, who beat him in their lone previous FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting last year. “He has an unbelievable return of serve, moves unbelievably fast, hits big from the baseline, and doesn’t have many weaknesses.
“When I played him in Shanghai I didn’t really do too much wrong. He just played a really well in the big moments. I definitely had chances. I know what my game plan is going to be. It’s going to be a tough match, but I’m looking forward to it. He’s a great guy.”
Kyrgios is now 14-3 on the year, while Raonic falls to 17-3). The pair’s FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry is deadlocked at 2-2.
Australia’s Nick Kyrgios beat Canadian Milos Raonic at the Miami Open to reach his first Masters semi-final and break into the world’s top 20.
Kyrgios beat the 12th seed 6-4 7-6 (7-4) to set up a semi-final against Japan’s Kei Nishikori.
The result means Kyrgios, who turns 21 on 27 April, will become the youngest man in the top 20 for seven years.
In the women’s draw, Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova and Belarusian Victoria Azarenka won their semi-finals.
Raonic had not dropped serve all week in Miami, but Kyrgios broke the Canadian in the very first game – the only break of the contest.
“That definitely set the tone,” said Kyrgios. “I’ve really learned how to return this year and I’m moving really well, so I’m giving myself more opportunities.”
Kyrgios fended off five break points and restricted Raonic to four aces over the course of one hour and 44 minutes.
Having won his first ATP title in Marseille last month, the Australian has now broken new ground at the elite Masters level.
“I’m feel as if I’m a lot stronger, a lot fitter and I’ve just got more experience,” he said. “The last couple of years on tour have been a bit of a rollercoaster, but I’ve learned a lot.”
Asked about the new ranking, he said: “It’s pretty cool, but there are 19 guys in front of me.”
Nishikori saved five match points to win a dramatic quarter-final against Frenchman Gael Monfils 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-3).
Former US and French Open champion Kuznetsova reached the Miami Open final for the first time since she won in 2006 with a 7-5 6-3 victory over Swiss Timea Bacsinszky.
The 30-year-old, ranked 19th, beat Serena Williams in the fourth round and will return to the top 10 for the first time six years if she takes the title.
“I don’t think if I get to top 10 or not,” she said.
“When I go and I see the rankings I am confident I can beat these players and players from the top 10.”
The in-form Azarenka avenged her only defeat of the season against Angelique Kerber at the Australian Open as she beat the German 6-2 7-5.
Azarenka, 26, is now one win away from emulating Steffi Graf and Kim Clijsters by winning back-to-back Indian Wells and Miami titles,
“I have a job to do on Saturday, regardless if it’s going to make history,” said Azarenka. “I’m ready, I’m prepared and I’m going out there hungry.”
Japanese rallies against inspired Monfils
Kei Nishikori left his comfort zone behind in an epic 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(3) victory over Gael Monfils at the Miami Open presented by Itau on Friday. The No. 6 seed saved five match points and advanced into the semi-finals after two and a half hours.
The No. 16 seeded Monfils came out firing, ripping a 109 mph service return en route to breaking Nishikori in the opening game. The Frenchman was all-in on his service games as well, topping 140 mph on the radar gun with his first delivery. He would end with 14 aces and 41/51 points won on his first serve. Nishikori kept pace with the explosive Monfils by making his second-serve returns count (26/40 points won) and by sneaking into the net at critical junctures.
By the start of the third set, Monfils, clothes soaked with sweat and clearly labouring under the Miami sun, appeared ready to throw in the towel. But the Frenchman instead began hitting with abandon and found his mark time and again. Down 2-4 in the deciding set, Monfils swept the next three games and held four match points with Nishikori serving to stay in the match at 4-5.
Nishikori did not allow Monfils, who was chasing his first win over a Top 10 Emirates ATP Rankings player since last April (d. Federer in Monte Carlo), to win the final point. The baseliner broke with his usual patterns of play and serve-and-volleyed to force a deciding tie-break, then took advantage of an ill-advised Monfils drop shot to move ahead for good. He improved to 16-5 in Miami, 2-0 in the FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry with Monfils, and matched his best showing in South Florida (2014 SF).
Frenchmen eye second straight Masters 1000 crown
Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut are one win away from completing the Indian Wells-Miami double.
The fifth-seeded Frenchmen knocked out defending champions and No. 4 seeds Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday to reach the final of the Miami Open presented by Itau. They capitalised on three of their five break points chances, while saving all three faced, to clinch victory in exactly one hour.
The Bryans had been looking to win their third straight Miami title and fifth overall (2007-08, ’14-15).
Herbert and Mahut extended their winning streak on U.S. soil to 15 matches, beginning with their title run at the 2015 US Open. They claimed their team’s first Masters 1000 title two weeks ago at the BNP Paribas Open, where they dethroned Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock in the final.
Herbert and Mahut will face Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram for the title. The South African/American duo upended Treat Huey and Max Mirnyi 6-4, 6-2 in the other semi-final. Klaasen and Ram saved all four break points faced and advanced in 69 minutes.
Klaasen and Ram defeated reigning Australian Open champions Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares in their Miami opener, avenging their Melbourne quarter-final loss.
Scot speaks to CNN about his epic rise
After hailing from the town of Dunblane to reach No. 2 in the Emirates ATP Rankings and amass 35 tour-level titles, including two Grand Slams, Scotland’s Andy Murray has been featured in CNN’s Human To Hero show.
In the feature, Murray remembers his early playing days, discusses the relief – not joy – he felt at becoming the first British male in 77 years to win Wimbledon in 2013, and his excitement and priority shift after starting a family with his wife, Kim Sears.
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