Miami Final Preview: Djokovic vs. Nishikori

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