MIAMI — Novak Djokovic reached the final of the Sony Ericsson Open after defeating American Mardy Fish in straight sets on Friday to extend his winning run to 25 and set up a showdown with either Rafa Nadal or Roger Federer.
Djokovic ran out a 6-3 6-1 winner at Key Biscayne to ensure Sundays final of the Masters 1000 event will include two of the top three players in the world for the first time.
The Serb, whose 25 straight wins date back to last year, again illustrated his ability to rise to the moment as he responded to the challenge every time Fish found a glimmer of hope, ending the match in one hour 26 minutes.
Play was delayed by rain with the score at 2-2 in the first set and little to choose between the pair but Djokovic came out and broke at the first opportunity.
Andy Murray, still to choose his next coach after a dismal start to the season, is almost certain to play in the Monte Carlo Masters 1000, which starts on 10 April.
Murray, who split with his part-time coach of three years, Alex Corretja, on Tuesday, has stayed in Miami, the scene of his latest early defeat in straight sets, and has had talks with at least two candidates, one of whom is believed to be the former world No1 Ivan Lendl, a Florida resident. Murray will return to London next week, to confirm his entry to Queen’s in June.
Murray, who will not be overly buoyed by the technical restoration of his world No4 ranking on Monday, needs a quick fix to restore his confidence before the clay-court season.
Britain’s Elena Baltacha reached the second round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami after a gruelling three-set win over Austria’s Sybille Bammer.
Baltacha conceded the opening set but rallied superbly to claim the next two on tie-breaks on her way to a 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 victory in two hours and 55 minutes.
The world No85 now faces Klara Zakopalova, the 32nd seed from the Czech Republic, who had a first-round bye.
Baltacha, who fought back from a break down in the second set and 1-4 down in the third, admitted she had ridden her luck. “I can’t believe I’m still part of the tournament,” she said.
