TENNIS – John Isner upset World Number 5 Kei Nishikori 6-4 6-3 in just 71 minutes to become the first US semifinalist in Miami since Mardy Fishi in 2011. Isner set up the semifinal against defending champion Novak Djokovic, who edged David Ferrer 7-5 7-5. Diego Sampaolo
Isner clinched his second Top-10 win this week after beating Milos Raonic in three sets. The last time he had beaten two consecutive top-10 players dates back to Cincinnati 2012 when ge reached the final after beating Nole Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro. He reached the semifinal without dropping his serve in the whole tournament. Before this year Isner had never got through the fourth round in Miami.
The first four games went on serve until 2-2. Nishikori brought up break point chances in the fifth game but Isner saved them with two first serve winners. In the sixth game Nishikori saved two break points. The match continued to be played on serve until 5-4 when Isner went up 0-40 on Nishikori’s serve and managed to break serve to clinch the first set with 6-4.
Isner hit serves at the speed of 210 km/h and got the only break of the second set as Nishikori made two errors. Isner wrapped up the match in 70 minutes. “John played the best two sets in his career”. said Brad Gilbert at the press-conference.
Isner produced a very solid performance hitting aggressively from the baseline. He hit 33 winners and 13 aces and did not face any break point chances against Nishikori who had lost just 10 games and broken 15 times in the previous matches. Isner has not been broken in the whole tournament. He has won 74 percent of his first serve points.
Isner Is looking to become the first US player to win the Miami titles since Andy Roddick in 2010.
Isner will take on Novak Djokovic who edged David Ferrer 7-5 7-5.
Djokovic is bidding to win the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Miami titles in the same year four years after achieving this feat in his magic 2011 season. The other players who won the three top tournaments of the first part of the season were Pete Sampras in 1994, André Agassi in 2001 and Roger Federer in 2006. Djokovic has already won the Indian Wells-Miami twice in 2011 and 2014.
Ferrer, who celebrated his 33rd birthday yesterday, held his serve in the first game and broke serve for 2-0 . The Spanish player stormed out to a 4-1 lead in the first set but Djokovic found his rhythm and converted his third break point chance in the seventh game to claw his way back for 3-4. This was the longest game of the match as it lasted 10 minutes and featured 14 points. This was the turning point as Djokovic recovered from 1-4 by reeling off six of the next seven points.
Nole brought up a match point as he was serving at 5-4 but David saved it. The Serbian star earned another break for 6-5 before closing out the first set in the next game with 7-5 after 58 minutes.
It was a close and hard-fought match with a lot of winners from both players. The Serbian brought up two break points and managed to break with a forehand winner. Djokovic served for the match at 5-4 but Ferrer saved the first match point and got a crucial break after a 32-shot rally to draw level to 5-5. Nole broke straight back after playing a perfect return game with a series of winners. Nole won easily the 12th game to seal the win with 7-5. From 5-5 Nole won 8 of the next 10 points. Ferrer showed that he is still very competive at the age of 33.
“I had to fight for everything that I got tonight on the court because he wasn’t going to give it to me. I knew that coming into the court he is a great competitor, that he grinds a lot, runs and makes you play an extra shot. I expected it to be a very physical match as it always is with David. He is one of the greatest competitors out there”, said Djokovic
