Williams, Li set up enticing Miami showdown

World number one Williams continued her utter domination of Maria Sharapova with a 6-4 6-3 win over the fourth-seeded Russian, while second-ranked Li won a rematch of her Australian Open final, beating Dominika Cibulkova 7-5 2-6 6-3 to maintain her perfect record against the Slovakian.

A six-times Miami champion, the American's victory ran her winning streak against Sharapova to 15 matches, a stunning run that stretches back to 2004.

Li's mastery over Cibulkova may not span as many years but is no less complete, the Chinese veteran sweeping all seven of their meetings over a decade-long span.

Three of those wins have come this year, with Asia's first Grand Slam singles champion defeating the Slovakian in straight sets at Melbourne Park, in three sets at Indian Wells two weeks ago and now at Miami.

"Good challenge. The last time I played her (Williams) was in the (WTA Tour) Championships so it has been four months and this time we really can see how I have improved," Li said as she looked ahead to the final.

"I am really happy I can play her again. Everyone will be confident if they come to the final. I think for sure it will be a tough match."

The 10th seeded Cibulkova had looked ready to deny tennis fans a marquee final between the best two players in the world when she stormed back to take the second set and opened the third with a break to forge a 3-1 lead.

However, Li kept her composure and swept the next five games to cap an enthralling fightback and her spot in the final.

read more: https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/tennis-williams-miami-final-beating-sharapova-191151347--ten.html

 

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Djokovic ends Murray's reign, Federer falls in Miami

 Meanwhile, a tireless Kei Nishikori shocked 17-times Grand Slam winner Roger Federer 3-6 7-5 6-4 to claim his second top five scalp in two.

For Djokovic, a three-times winner on the Miami hardcourts, the victory was a small measure of revenge as the rivals clashed for the first time since Murray beat the Serb in last year's Wimbledon final.

Murray, playing his first event since splitting with coach Ivan Lendl last week, had looked increasingly comfortable and confident on his own but Djokovic kept the Scotsman under almost constant pressure in blustery conditions.

"I was not surprised about the way he played," said Djokovic, whose coach Boris Becker was also not in Miami as he is taking time off to undergo double hip surgery. "I expected him to play well, to be a little bit more aggressive.

"I tried to not allow him to be in the comfort zone because when he strikes the zone, when he feels comfortable on the court, he's striking the ball so well, maybe best in the world."

The road to a fourth Miami title does not get any easier for Djokovic with a possible semi-final meeting with 17-times Grand Slam winner and two-times Miami champion Roger Federer up next.

Federer, who lost to Djokovic in the final of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells 10 days ago, takes on Japan's Kei Nishikori in another quarter-final later on Wednesday.

In dramatic contrast to the women's semi between Dominika Cibulkova and Agnieszka Radwanska that ended moments earlier on centre court and featured 19 breaks of serve, breaks were hard to come by for Djokovic and Murray in a tight opening set.

Murray had only a single break opportunity against the Serb while Djokovic was able to convert one of his three chances, with the help of a controversial point.

The first set ended in an argument between Murray and the chair umpire, the Scotsman furious that Djokovic was given a point to open the decisive game even though it was clear the Serb reached across the net to hit the ball.

A distracted Murray then lost the next three points on unforced errors as Djokovic claimed the break and set.

"I wasn't sure, from where I was standing, it was a very hard thing to see," said Murray. "I knew it was close. So that's why I went and asked Novak and he told me he was over the net. That was it.

"(The chair umpire) said, 'yes, he was over the net but he was in line with the net,' so I didn't really understand.

"It maybe had a slight bearing on that game but I was still up a break in the second set."

Djokovic admitted later that he did indeed cross the net but claimed he was unaware it was against the rules because he did not touch the net.

"It's an important point but mentally obviously it distracted him more than it gave me an encouragement," said Djokovic. "It was him, that he got upset ... he made three unforced errors and the set was gone."

After knocking off fourth seeded Spaniard David Ferrer in a three-hour marathon on Tuesday, the 21st ranked Nishikori was forced to go the distance again, surviving a two-hour centre court battle with Federer. 

read more: http://asia.eurosport.com/tennis/miami-masters/2014/djokovic-ends-murray-s-reign-federer-falls-in-miami_sto4189824/story.shtml

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Nadal joins Djokovic, Murray and Federer in quarters

Officials announced a suspicious package had been left near the main entrance to the sprawling tennis facility which was quickly locked down, keeping thousands of spectators from entering or leaving while Miami Dade police investigated.

 

The all clear was given just before Nadal stepped onto the Crandon Park centre court to face Fognini in the final match of the night.

 

The Spaniard showed no signs of being alarmed by the bomb scare as he completed the win in 62 minutes.

"Every day I have to try to find my rhythm, try to think about myself, what I have to do well, so I just try to be focused on what I really need to do to play well," said Nadal.

 

"Then the opponent is free to do whatever. Tonight was not an easy match for him, for the conditions that I told you before. So it was a little bit strange, but in general, I think I was very focused and solid with my serve."

 

Nadal's next opponent is Canadian Milos Raonic, who beat Benjamin Becker 6-3 6-4.

 

"He's a very dangerous opponent," added the Spaniard.

 

"His serve is huge, one of the best without any doubt, and he's able to play very aggressive on the return because he doesn't feel a lot of pressure on his return because he knows that he's very safe with his serve."

 

Nadal's great rival Federer was also in cruise control, needing just 49 minutes to dismiss ninth seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-1 6-2.

 

"Look, things went well out on the court today," said the Swiss 17-times Grand Slam winner. "You just take what you get and you run with it.

 

"I think I played well. I served well. I made my returns I had to and stayed aggressive, so I didn't let him just make errors.

"I forced him to do stuff. It was a good match for me."

Defending champion Murray, playing his first event since splitting with coach Ivan Lendl last week, has looked increasingly comfortable and confident on his own.

 

He disposed of 11th-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 6-1 without facing a single break point.

read more: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/tennis-djokovic-first-miami-quarters-175013248--ten.html

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