TENNIS – It was a strange Friday without tennis a Kei Nishikori and Tomas Berdych were forced to withdraw from their semifinals allowing their rivals to take advantage of walkovers to reach to the Miami final Diego Sampaolo
I twill be the second Nadal-Djokovic final at Key Biscayne three years after the exciting three-set match won by the Serbian player in 2011 when Djoker prevailed in a tie-break.
Kei Nishikori pulled out because of a groin injury one day after knocking out Roger Federer. “I am very disappointed to pull out. I am very sorry for any fans who wanted to come out for this match”This tournament is very special and I am looking forward to going back in the years to come”, said Nishikori.
Berdych was forced to pull out from his semifinal against Nadal due to a gastroenteritis. “I was really in good shape to play against Rafa but I began feeling unwell on Friday morning. I am really disappointed that I didn’t have the chance to hit the ball”, said Berdych.
Djokovic will be looking to score his second Indian Wells- Miami double three years after achieving this feat in the two US Master 1000 tournaments on hard-court. Two weeks ago the Serbian player beat Federer in a thrilling three-set match at Indian Wells. Djokovic has already won three times in Miami in 207, 2011 and 2012.
Nadal will be bidding to win his first Miami title after playing three finals in 2005 (against Federer), 2008 (against Davydenko) and 2011 against Djokovic. Nadal leads 22-17 in their previous head-to-head matches but Djokovic won their last two head-to-head matches in Beijing and in the ATP Finals in London. They have never met so far this year.
Nadal said ahead of his 40th match against Djokovic. “It’s very important to be in the Miami final after losing early in Indian Wells. I have a lot of friends, a Latin crowd that supports me every day. To be in the final I get 600 points for the Ranking that are very important in this part of the season. Miami is a very important tournament that I have never won in the past. It is my fourth final. To be able to play four finals in one tournament means that I did well. I am going to try to be ready for Sunday”, said Nadal.
