Miami Open: Djokovic eager to turn up the heat on rivals

World number one looks to add another title after Indian Wells

MIAMI: World number one Novak Djokovic will try to put extra distance between himself and the chasing pack, taking confidence from his weekend title in California into the Miami Open.

Djokovic won the Indian Wells trophy for a second consecutive year by beating Roger Federer 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 and will try to repeat his March trophy double from last year at the ATP and WTA hardcourt event.

With Federer not playing Miami by choice, the way is open for Djokovic, second seed Rafael Nadal and number three Andy Murray to add ranking points before the switch to European clay next month.

With more than half a decade of rivalry between the "Big Four," any edge is welcome in the heated competition among the elite.

"We still keep on pushing and moving the borders," said Djokovic. "We still keep improving, all of us. We are playing better than we did a few years ago, and it's because of these rivalries. That's something that is special in our sport."

All 16 men's seeds open with byes, with Djokovic to play the winner between Martin Klizan and Paolo Lorenzi.

Number two Nadal was unable to impress at Indian Wells, with the Spaniard a constant complainer about the balls being used. But with a 2014 final run to defend, he will need to bury his worries if he hopes to win his first Miami crown.

Murray, who won the title at his training base city in 2009 and 2013, is coming off a semi-final hammering by Djokovic in California and looking for a first title since last autumn.

US Open finalist Kei Nishikori of Japan takes the fourth seeding ahead of Canadian Milos Raonic, beaten by Federer in the Indian Wells semis. Swiss Stan Wawrinka is sixth. Spain's David Ferrer takes the seventh seeding ahead of Czech Tomas Berdych.

Serena still an uncertainty

Serena Williams will again be queen of the women's draw at her home tournament, although the 33-year-old may have a late fitness worry after withdrawing prior to her Indian Wells semi-final with eventual champion Simona Halep due to a knee injury.

Serena said that a few days of rest should put her right, but if she does take her place in the field, the 19-time Grand Slam winner will be a top target for second-seeded rival Maria Sharapova and Halep.

Dane Caroline Wozniacki is seeded fourth, ahead of Ana Ivanovic and Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, who suffered a collapse in form in a fourth-round Indian Wells loss to a qualifier, sixth.

Poland's seventh seed Agnieszka Radwanska also has ground to make up after a third-round exit in California. Russian Ekaterina Makarova is seeded eighth.