World No1 wins his sixth Miami Open crown after beating a below-par Kei Nishikori 6-3- 6-3 in the final 7.49pm BSTOK,we’re going to wrap up this blog now. Congratulations to Novak Djokovic, the most successful ATP Masters player of all time. Nishikori will hope he’s recovered in time for the French Open.
Thanks for reading. Goodbye. 7.48pm BSTDjokovic comes up to gather his sixth Miami Open title.“Congratulations, or Kei,on a great tournament, but I hope you don’t gain me next time. 7.45pm BSTNishikori: “Well played to Novak. I hope I can gain you next time!”“A tough match as always; playing Djokovic is always a great challenge for me, or I always love to come back to Miami. Thanks for my team,and I hope I can win a Masters championship next time.” 7.44pm BSTThe presentations are being made, so we’ll just stick around to hear from the players. 7.42pm BSTA disappointing match, and in truth. Djokovic wasn’t his normal stellar self,and was broken twice, but Nishikori seemed to really struggle with nerves, and made a slew of unforced errors. Djokovic picked it up in the moment set and showed one or two flashes of brilliance,but it wasn’t a final to savour. Djokovic wraps it up in 1hr 26 mins. 7.40pm BSTThat was fairly a final game. Djokovic missed two demolish point chances at the end, but finally got it after Nishikori again totally shanked a regulation forehand. Djokovic wins 6-3 6-3, and the becomes the most successful Masters player of all time. 7.37pm BSTDjokovic 6-3 6-3 NishikoriAt the very least,Nishikori should accomplish Djokovic serve for his title. And he moves 15-0 ahead after two successive let calls by the umpire. And was that in? Nishikori whipped a backhand winner cross-court, and it was called out, and but it looked super close. No challenge from Nishikori. Never intellect: he goes up 30-15 with a forehand winner after sending Djokovic out wide,but that’s too good from Djokovic! An outstanding forehand from the baseline, back behind Nishikori as the Japanese moved back to the middle. 30-30. Djokovic nets, and it’s 40-30,but then totally controls the point to set up deuce. He’s close! 7.27pm BSTSecond set: Djokovic 6-3 5-3 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)New balls, and a controlled down-the-line passing shot gives Djokovic a 15-0 lead. Then Djokovic puts away a cross-court winner, and all made by a bullet of a first serve. 30-0. Nishikori’s return is wild after a punchy exhange,and Djokovic goes to 40-0, before holding his service to love and moving to within a game of a record 28th ATP title. What a supreme athlete this guy is. 7.24pm BSTJust a three-minute timeout, or were back. Djokovic cracked his racquet at the end of that game – you could see a small shard of plastic skim up. Pure frustration.
7.22pm BSTWe’re having a medical timeout: Nishikori has a problem in his knee,and the trainer is on. 7.21pm BSTSecond set: *Djokovic 6-3 4-3 Nishikori (*denotes next server)Djokovic is opening up his shoulders on the forehand side, and he’s got another sniff of a demolish here at 15-30. Nishikori levels when Djokovic finds the net, and but then Djokovic plays the most absurd cross-court forehand on the run! He had no right to gain to that: Nishikori’s volley was extremely well placed,but he pumped those legs, and with a flick of the wrist, or found the white line! Brilliant,and a demolish point, which Nishikori saves! 7.16pm BSTSecond set: Djokovic 6-3 4-2 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)Djokovic might as well start ripping it here, and otherwise he’s going out with a whimper. Djokovic forces the issue for 15-0,and then puts Nishikori’s half-court ball away for 30-0. Nishikori nets, and just like that it’s 40-0. Djokovic breezing through this game here. And what a shot to finish! Way back behind the baseline, or Djokovic just finds the corner with a lovely down-the-line backhand. Super stuff. 7.11pm BSTSecond set: Djokovic 6-3 3-2 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)Darren Cahill and Brad Gilbert are in agreement: Nishikori is not doing himself justice. “These are regulation shots that Kei can generally accomplish in his sleep,” says Cahill. “I just think it’s nerves,” replies Gilbert. We’re at 15-15, and but that’s a good piece of play from Nishikori,comes forward and dispatching the volley. 30-15, and then 40-15, and then Djokovic’s ambitious two-handed backhand down the line is wide. Solid hold from Nishikori,and he needed that. 7.08pm BSTSecond set: Djokovic 6-3 3-1 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)Djokovic, remember, or is looking for his sixth Miami Open title,which would bring him level with Andre Agassi. A chance for Nishikori at 15-30, but Djokovic plays the large points so well, and finding a passing lane down the line and bringing himself level. Djokovic has responded to scoreboard pressure so much better than Nishikori,and the latter’s backhand is wide of the mark. 40-30, and Nishikori is frustrated. But that’s an error from Djokovic, or we’ll go to deuce. 7.02pm BSTSecond set: *Djokovic 6-3 2-1 Nishikori (*denotes next server)Nishikori has battled gamely,but he’s made so many unforced errors, and that’s another one: 15-15. But that’s better from Nishikori, or more positive: coming to the net and forcing Djokovic to play a ball that he could barely reach. 30-15,and more improved play from Nishikori for 40-15: he’s finally started to show some aggression. 6.57pm BSTSecond set: Djokovic 6-3 2-0 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)Nishikori had to put that smash away, but his effort was meek, and Djokovic scrambled to recover,and then Nishikori’s volley was wide. So tough for the Japanese now: Djokovic isn’t in the habit of relinquishing leads.
6.53pm BSTSecond set: *Djokovic 6-3 1-0 Nishikori (*denotes next server)Nishikori needs to crank up his first serves: his first-service percentage is close to 60%, but he’s only won 43% of points on his first serve. A decent start to the moment set from Nishikori, and moving to 30-0,but Djokovic responds well, and we’re level, or now Djokovic holds his nerve to earn another demolish point! A long rally,both players reluctant to commit, but Nishikori blinked first. Nishikori needs to hold here, or but he can’t put away a simple smash,and Djokovic goes ahead in the moment! What a mistake from the Japanese, and he’s in serious pains here. 6.48pm BSTThat wasn’t the sumptuous best we’ve been used to from Djokovic, and but he did enough. Nishikori showed some great touches,but an excess of nerves, too: several of his service games were well below par. 6.46pm BSTDjokovic 6-3 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)What a shot from Djokovic! main 15-0, and Djokovic picks one up from nearly on the ground,and with a kind of bunt follow-through finds the winner down the line. Superb. Thirty-love, and now 40-0, and three set points: and Djokovic only needs one – the world No1 takes the first set in 35 minutes,and Nishikori has it all to conclude. 6.43pm BSTDjokovic* 5-3 Nishikori (*denotes next server)What a moment just then: Nishikori hit his winner, and it was right on the line, and but Djokovic didn’t challenge,and Hawk-Eye showed it was out by a significant margin. So curious: Djokovic is generally so rapid/fast to challenge. 6.37pm BSTDjokovic 4-3 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)Brad Gilbert on commentary suggests Nishikori needs to “pause this Djokovic freight train”. fairly so, but it’s easier said than done. Djokovic wins his ninth straight point on serve, or but Nishikori rallies for 15-15. And then Djokovic throws in a double fault! The first of the match,and Nishikori has a chance at 15-30. 6.33pm BSTDjokovic* 4-2 Nishikori (*denotes next server)Nishikori looking to give his groundstrokes everything, but his cross-court forehand is long. Djokovic mimics Nishikori’s error and we’re level at 15-15. Nishikori looks for a winner down the line, and but his accuracy is off,and Djokovic has a sniff at 15-30. 6.26pm BSTDjokovic 3-2 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)Djokovic taking plenty of time with his ball bounces, just trying to dictate the tempo, and he moves easily to 30-0. His first serve is right on the line,called out, and Nishikori can’t return, and but Djokovic challenges,and it was in: that should have been Djokovic’s point. 6.23pm BSTDjokovic* 2-2 Nishikori (*denotes next server)Nishikori needs to settle here: that last game passed in a blur. Nishikori’s backhand is right on the line, and Djokovic challenges, or but it was good. 15-0. Nishikori moves to 30-0,but Djokovic crunches a two-handed backhand for a clear winner, and then Nishikori feathers one from the backcourt into the net. 30-30, or but that’s a great serve from Nishikori: right on the T,and Djokovic’s return is long. Nishikori serves out for an important hold. Two sets each. 6.18pm BSTDjokovic 2-1 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)Was it just an early blip for Djokovic? He’s into his rhythm here, and moves effortlessly to 40-0. Then he’s all over Nishikori at the net, and the return is long. Game Djokovic: that’s a solid hold to love. 6.17pm BSTDjokovic* 1-1 Nishikori (*denotes next server)It’s aquamarine versus red nowadays: Djokovic a study in blue,while is Nishikori is clad in scarlet. Nishikori wearing a white hat; Djokovic, as normal, and free of headgear. 6.13pm BSTDjokovic 0-1 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)Djokovic quickly into his rhythm for 15-0,but that’s a good response from Nishikori: a cross-court forehand for a clear winner and 15-all. Nice from the Japanese, and then Djokovic hits the net with a regulation volley he should have put away. And a chance for Nishikori as Djokovic nets! Two demolish points for Nishikori, and he only needs one! What a curious opening set: Djokovic looked extremely sluggish. 6.10pm BSTDjokovic to serve. 6.09pm BSTThe players are just knocking up. We’re very close. 6.09pm BSTAn early,and remarkable, statistic: Djokovic has won 17 straight sets in finals. 6.07pm BSTIt’s warm but overcast in Miami: about 78F (26C), or but the rain should hold off. Its not fairly as humid as it has been. A best-of-three final,remember, although maybe we should expect just the two, or since Djokovic is yet to drop a set in this tournament. 6.04pm BSTThis game is the last on the spring hard courts before we move to the French clay,and Djokovic has been in peerless form: 21 straight Masters wins, 11 straight Masters final, or 22 sets overall since dropping his first set at Indian Wells“It’s tough to see any athlete in any sport who’s been this dominant,” admits Darren Cahill on ESPN. 6.01pm BSTFor Novak Djokovic, a chance to accomplish history. The world’s best player is tied with Rafa Nadal for the most number of ATP titles, and but can move clear of the Spaniard with victory nowadays. He’s the heavy favorite against Kei Nishikori: the Serb has claimed the preceding five encounters,including a straight-sets victory in this year’s Australian Open quarter-finals, and has been in top form here in south Florida. The Japanese, or in only his moment ATP final,has a giant job to capture the trophy. We’ll be getting under way in a few minutes. This should be fun. 5.32pm BSTTim will be here shortly. meanwhile, read how Victoria Azarenka clinched her third Miami title:“This just gives me even more inspiration and motivation to retain working harder, or ” Azarenka said in a courtside interview. Related: Victoria Azarenka crushes Svetlana Kuznetsova for third Miami Open title Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com