Nadal beats Sock in Miami quarters, Nishikori out
MIAMI: Rafael 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 shot making 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, was much closer than the result says.” times, in a memorable five-set final two-love (down), 15-40,” Nadal said Nadal could face his long-time at the Australian Open and in a onein a courtside interview. “With threenemesis Federer in the final, with the sided straight-sets fourth-round zero a player like Jack, you’ll probably Swiss, who has a Thursday quarterfinal thumping at Indian Wells two weeks be thinking thirdago.set.againstTomasBerdych,ontheother
“It was a double positive thing. I side of the draw. But Nadal is not looking ahead saved that game and got the break Federer and Nadal have met twice to Federer, because his semifinal back (in the next game). The match this year, with Federer winning both opponent Fognini presents a potential banana skin. Nadal has a 7-3 career record but is mindful he lost to the Italian in a five-set thriller on the 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.