TENNIS – Andy Murray, twice Miami champion in 2009 and 2013 and runner-up in 2012, beat Tomas Berdych 6-4 6-4 to reach his fourth final at Key Biscayne and his 13th final at Master 1000 level. Murray, who had not beaten Murray beat Berdych for the second time after winning their previous match last January in the semifinal of the Australian Open The Scotsman will renew his rivalry against Novak Djokovic who beat John Isner 7-6 (7-3) 6-2. Djokovic will be looking to win his fifth Miami title and to clinch his third Indian Wells-Miami double. Diego Sampaolo
Murray beat Berdych
The first Miami semifinal was a repeat of the Australian Open match where Murray won in four sets. Berdych lost the other Grand Slam semifinal in New York in 2012 but he had won all his four previous Master 1000 head-to-head matches in Paris Bercy, Montecarlo, Madrid and Cincinnati.
The first set started with a trade of three consecutive breaks in the first three games Murray got an early break but Berdych broke back in the second game with a backhand down the line. Murray broke in the the third game. There were no break point chances in the following games of the first set. Murray managed to hold serve en route to clinching the first set with 6-4 after 46 minutes. Murray won 77 percent of first serve games.
The start of the second set was a repeat of the first set with Murray taking the 2-1 lead after a trade of three consecutive breaks. Murray broke in the first game to love but Berdych broke straight back after a 12-point game on his only break point opportunity. Murray broke again in the third game to go up 2-1.
Murray rallied from 0-30 with a series of four consecutive points as he was serving for the match at 5-4 and secured the final point with a forehand after one hour and 40 mintes.
Murray left Berdych no chance and won 70 percent of his first serve points. Murray draws level to 6-6 in his 12 head-to-head matches against Tomas Berdych, who is now coached by Dani Valverdu, who was the previous assistant coach of the Dunblane star.
Murray has become the fifth player to reach at least four finals in Miami after André Agassi (eight times), Novak Djokovic (five finals), Pete Sampras (four) and Rafa Nadal (four).
Berdych, who finished runner-up to Andy Roddick in Miami in 2010, showed his consistency once again reaching his fifth semifinal of the season after the Australian Open, Doha and Rotterdam and Dubai. He lost two finals in Doha (to David Ferrer) and in Rotterdam (to Stan Wawrinka).
“I did most things well. There is not a lot I could complain about. My second serve was much better in the second set. I served well on the big points and got a lot of free points behind my serve. I dictated a lot of points from the baseline and that’s important because when he’s inside the baseline and controls points, he is a very powerful guy. I just played a bit better than him. When I was behind in games, like the last game, I came up with some big serves and was able to dictate a lot of the rallies from the baseline”, said Murray
Djokovic vs Isner 7-6 (7-2) 6-2
Novak Djokovic, the best returner on the circuit, met John Isner, one of the best server, for the second semifinal. Isner has become the first US player to reach the Miami semifinals since 2011 when Mardy Fish lost to Nole Djokovic. Isner has got through to this stage of the tournament after losing just one set against Milos Raonic in the fourth round when he broke his losing streak of 11 consecutive matches against top-10 players. He achieved his previous win against a top-10 in Cincinnati 2013 when he beat Raonic, Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro before losing the final against Rafa Nadal. Isner was the third player in the history of the Miami tournament after Federer and Djokovic to reach the Miami semifinal without dropping his serve.
Djokovic brought up his only break point on his set point in the 12th game. Isner, who has not dropped his serve in the whole tournament, fended off the break point after a long game featuring 14 points with a smash to force the match to the tie-break. Djokovic won the breaker with 7-3. Isner’s service games were hard-fought, but the US giant managed to hold his serve in the first set winning 67 percent of his first serve points and hitting eight aces.
In the tie-break Nole got the mini-break en route to opening up a 5-1 lead before clinching the tie-break with 7-3.
The four-time Miami champion broke serve twice In the second set en route to clinching the second set with 6-2 after 90 minutes. Isner was broken to 15 dropping his serve for the first time in the tournament in the third game of the second set. Djokovic clinched the double break in the fifth game. Isner held his third service game but Djokovic did not look back winning the second set with 6-2 to extend his lead in his previous head-to-head match against Isner to 7-2. They faced off only once in 2015 before Miami two weeks ago when Djokovic beat Isner 6-4 7-6 in the Round of 16 at Indian Wells
The Serbian star did not face any break points and hit 25 winners and 10 aces.
“I am glad that I managed to realize everything that I intended tactically before the match. It’s always tough to play somebody that serves that well. At the end of the day it is important to hand in there mentally and be patient. I used the court very well. I am pleased with my performance”, said Djokovic
Djokovic leads 17-8 in his head-to-head matches against Murray and won their last two clashes this year in the Australian Open final and in the Indian Wells semifinal.
Only seven players have achieved the Indian Wells-Miami double in the same year. This elite club features Jim Courier (1991), Michael Chang (1992), Pete Sampras (1994), Marcelo Rios (1998), Andreé Agassi (2001), Roger Federer (2005 and 2006) and Novak Djokovic (2011 and 2014). Only four players won the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Miami in the same year: Pete Sampras (1994), André Agassi (2001), Roger Federer (2006) and Novak Djokovic (2011)
