Nishikori fends off Monfils
April 02, 2016, Miami, Reuters
Tennis Miami Open : Azarenka to take on Kuznetsova in final
Kei Nishikori withstood a blistering early assault and saved five match points before battling past Frenchman Gael Monfils 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3) in a bruising quarterfinal at the Miami Open on Thursday.
The Japanese number one will face 24th seed Nick Kyrgios in the semifinals after the Australian upset 12th seeded Canadian Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-6 (4).
Sixth seed Nishikori appeared to have his match in control when leading 4-2 in the final set but his usually reliable forehand repeatedly let him down as he fell behind 4-5, 0-40 on serve before mounting a gutsy fightback.
He saved four match points in that 10th game, and a fifth in the 12th, before racing into a 6-3 lead in the tiebreak. Nishikori finally sealed the win with a forehand crosscourt winner.
Kyrgios took down his more fancied opponent in two sets to reach the last four for the first time in a ATP Masters 1000 event, riding a break in the first game of the match all the way to victory.
Azarenka in final
In the women’s challenge, the in-form Victoria Azarenka battled past an ailing but determined second seed Angelique Kerber to set up a final showdown against Svetlana Kuznetsova with a 6-2, 7-5 victory on Thursday.
Kerber looked dead and buried on several occasions in the second set but was able to stay alive with a gutsy break when Azarenka served for the match at 5-4.
Parity was short-lived, however, as Kerber handed back the break in the next game and Azarenka did not waste another opportunity to seal the deal to move one win away from a third Miami title and second straight triumph.
Next up for the 26-year-old is Kuznetsova in the final, after the Russian held off a strong challenge from Switzerland's Timea Bacsinszky 7-5, 6-3 in searing afternoon heat.
The Japanese number one will face 24th seed Nick Kyrgios in the semifinals after the Australian upset 12th seeded Canadian Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-6 (4).
Sixth seed Nishikori appeared to have his match in control when leading 4-2 in the final set but his usually reliable forehand repeatedly let him down as he fell behind 4-5, 0-40 on serve before mounting a gutsy fightback.
He saved four match points in that 10th game, and a fifth in the 12th, before racing into a 6-3 lead in the tiebreak. Nishikori finally sealed the win with a forehand crosscourt winner.
Kyrgios took down his more fancied opponent in two sets to reach the last four for the first time in a ATP Masters 1000 event, riding a break in the first game of the match all the way to victory.
Azarenka in final
In the women’s challenge, the in-form Victoria Azarenka battled past an ailing but determined second seed Angelique Kerber to set up a final showdown against Svetlana Kuznetsova with a 6-2, 7-5 victory on Thursday.
Kerber looked dead and buried on several occasions in the second set but was able to stay alive with a gutsy break when Azarenka served for the match at 5-4.
Parity was short-lived, however, as Kerber handed back the break in the next game and Azarenka did not waste another opportunity to seal the deal to move one win away from a third Miami title and second straight triumph.
Next up for the 26-year-old is Kuznetsova in the final, after the Russian held off a strong challenge from Switzerland's Timea Bacsinszky 7-5, 6-3 in searing afternoon heat.
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