Rafa shows how to shed a Sock

Rafa Nadal moved into the Miami Open semifinals with a straight-sets win over American Jack Sock on Wednesday, while second seed Kei Nishikori was sent packing after going down 6-4, 6-2 to unseeded Italian Fabio Fognini.

Nadal staved off four break points to avoid going down a double-break early in the second set, a pivotal game that set the stage for his 6-2, 6-3 victory on the Crandon Park hardcourt.

Nadal’s poise and shotmaking came to the fore when 13th seed Sock threatened to take a stranglehold on the second set.

”That was the key of the second set, two-love (down), 15-40,” Nadal said. ”With three-zero against a player like Jack, you’ll probably be thinking third set.

“It was a double positive thing. I saved that game and got the break back (in the next game). The match was much closer than the result says.”

Nadal could face longtime nemesis Federer in the final. The Swiss had a Thursday quarterfinal against Tomas Berdych.

Federer and Nadal have met twice this year, with Federer winning both times – first, in a thrilling five-set Australian Open final and in a straight-sets, fourth-round thumping at Indian Wells two weeks ago.

But Nadal is not looking ahead to Federer, because his semifinal opponent Fognini presents a potential banana skin. Nadal has a 7-3 career record but is mindful he lost to the Italian in a fivesetter on a US Open hardcourt in 2015.

“It’s like a dream maybe,” said the 29-year-old Fognini after becoming the first unseeded player in 10 years to make the Miami semis.

”This is a big, big tournament for me. I’m happy about my performance. I’m just trying to be focused on my game and do my best.”