MIAMI – Novak Djokovic’s remarkable run continued Friday as he steamed into the final of the ATP’s Miami Masters 1000, where he will face world number one Rafael Nadal. Djokovic reached his fourth final in as many tournaments this year with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over American Mardy Fish.
Nadal, meanwhile, notched a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory over 16-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, now ranked third in the world. Nadal, who is seeking his first Miami title, was rarely troubled on his serve and broke uncharacteristically error-prone Federer four times.
Djokovic stretched his 2011 winning streak to 23 straight matches and will have a chance to add the Miami crown to the Australian Open, Dubai and Indian Wells Masters 1000 titles captured already this year. He defeated Nadal in the Indian Wells final less than a fortnight ago, and with his triumph in the California desert, overtook Federer for number two in the world rankings.
In 30 years, only two players have made a better start to a season: American John McEnroe with 39 victories in 1984 and former Czechoslovakian Ivan Lendl with 25 in 1986. Fish, who will overtake Andy Roddick as the top-ranked American next week, had Djokovic on the defensive early, but couldn’t convert two break points. Then came a rain delay of nearly an hour, time that Djokovic used to regroup.
They resumed with the set level at 2-2, Djokovic serving. He saved a break point, then held with an ace. The real turning point came at 5-3, as Djokovic served for the set. Fish gave himself a double break point, but couldn’t capitalize on either, surrendering the set with a backhand into the net. Friday’s spotlight was all for the men in this $9 million ATP and WTA tournament, with Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka already booked for Saturday’s women’s final.
Former world number one Sharapova will be seeking her first title since May 2010, and her first in Miami after two runner-up finishes here. Azarenka, the eighth seed and the 2009 Miami champion, beat third-seeded Vera Zvonareva 6-0, 6-3 in the semi-finals while 16th-seeded Sharapova rallied for a 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 victory over Andrea Petkovic.
