Djokovic ‘prepared’ for Nadal

Top seeds to meet in Miami Masters final.

MIAMI:

Novak Djokovic said he is well prepared to face Rafael Nadal in the final of the ATP Miami Masters final on Sunday. Both Nadal and Djokovic reached the finals in bizarre fashion as their opponents, Tomas Berdych and Kei Nishikori, withdrew in the semi-finals on Friday.

"I won the Indian Wells, which has given me a lot of confidence,” said Djokovic.

“I’ve played a lot of matches, put in a lot of hours on the practice court, and hopefully it will pay off."

The Serbian received two free passes in his progress to the final. He also advanced to the fourth round on a walkover after third-round opponent Florian Mayer withdrew from their third-round match with a groin injury.

"Well, it's not the first time it happens for me to have the opponent pulling out; maybe it's the first time to happen to me twice in the same tournament.

"But it is the way it is, and you kind of have to deal with that."

The two semi-final walkovers were a first in ATP history, with Nishikori pulling out with a groin injury and Berdych felled by gastroenteritis.

The bizarre turn of events nevertheless produced a predictable pair of finalists in world number one Nadal and number two Djokovic.

Nishikori ‘sad’ after unfortunate injury

Nishikori was depressed as he withdrew after attempting to warm up for his earlier match against Djokovic, saying the left groin injury hindered his movement too much to allow him to play.

"For me it was my biggest tournament in a couple of years, to reach a semi-final of a Masters," said a dejected Nishikori.

"I’m sad because I was playing really well."

The injury ended Nishikori's sparkling run at the hardcourt tournament — earlier beating David Ferrer and then Roger Federer in the quarter-finals.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2014.

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