Miami Open: Williams edges Halep to set final against Navarro, Djokovic beats Ferrer to enter semis

American to bid for an eighth Miami title, Serbian to meet Isner in last-four

MIAMI: A frustrated Serena Williams clawed into her 10th Miami final on Thursday, defeating Simona Halep 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.

Williams, apparently rattled by the Halep cheer squad who drowned out most of the chants for the home hope, saw her mighty forehand desert her in the second set, in which Halep converted the only break point of the set to force a third.

World number one Williams, who captured her 19th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open this year, regrouped to seize a 5-2 lead in the third only for the world number three from Romania to battle back.

Finally Williams found a way, and she will bid for an eighth Miami title against Carla Suarez Navarro.

Spain's Suarez Navarro earned her place in the biggest match of her career with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Germany's Andrea Petkovic.

"I was barely able to regroup," admitted a relieved Williams. "I was making so many errors and was so frustrated.

"The only thing that was working for me was coming to the net. I'm just happy to get through this one.

"Still, it was actually a fun match, I'm in the final so that's unbelievable."

Williams has won all four of her matches against Suarez Navarro without dropping a set.

But she said she'd have to play better to lift the trophy yet again in Miami.

Williams swept the first set with ease before Halep, who captured the biggest title of her career at Indian Wells less than a fortnight ago, found her own rhythm in the second.

In the third, Williams overcame her nerves and flaky forehand to build a 5-2 lead, only for Halep to push the set to 5-all.

However, Williams broke her two games later to pull off the victory.

"I had to dig deep to stay on the court. I could only keep trying," Williams said.

"I never gave up and here I am."

Saturday's final will be the biggest career test yet for Suarez Navarro, seeded 12th.

The diminutive Spaniard, who honed her game in the Canary Islands, came out on top in a loose match, combining with Germany's Petkovic for nearly 60 unforced errors in less than 90 minutes on court.

Suarez Navarro, who is now poised to break into the top 10 in the world rankings, converted three of her 10 break point opportunities and was never in serious trouble.

"I played a good match, an important match like this is difficult," said the winner.

"I just tried to play my game and enjoy it.

"Playing this final is an important event for me. I train in the off season in hopes of playing a final like this," added the Spaniard, whose only WTA title came in Portugal last year.

Djokovic holds off Ferrer to book Isner clash

Novak Djokovic recovered from a slow start and had to battle at the end to overcome tenacious Spaniard David Ferrer on Thursday to reach the Miami Masters semi-finals.

Serbia's world number one triumphed 7-5, 7-5 and advanced to a meeting with big-serving American John Isner, who overpowered Japan's world number five Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-3.

Djokovic, the defending champion and winner of the Indian Wells title less than a fortnight ago, came from two breaks down in the first set as Ferrer celebrated his 33rd birthday with a runaway start.

But Djokovic reeled him in to take the first set and served for victory leading 5-4 in the second.

Ferrer was having no part of it. He broke Djokovic, but was broken himself a game later to let Djokovic again serve for the match.

Djokovic now owns eight straight wins over the Spaniard, winner of three titles already this season.

"David is one of the toughest opponents, I knew the match would be physical," said Djokovic.

"He gives you nothing and makes you work for every point.

"My strategy was to try and dominate from the baseline, but stay alert for chances to come to the net. That is something I've been working.

"It was a tough match, but one that I enjoyed. The next round will be totally different against Isner, who has one of the best serves in the game."

The tense moments against Ferrer followed Djokovic's great escape against Alexandr Dolgopolov, who was up a set and a break in his fourth-round loss to the Serbi.

Isner, whose year has been modest at best, has exploded into form on the hardcourts of Miami, where he has yet to drop a service game.

He ended the hopes of world number five Nishikori, Asia's top player who reached the US Open final last September. It was Isner's second top-10 win of the tournament, after his upset of sixth-ranked Milos Raonic on Tuesday.

"Things just snowballed for me," Isner said, adding that the hot conditions suited his game perfectly.

He made the most of that firing 13 aces and 33 winners overall.

"I just played well," Isner said.

"I've been serving well really for a while now, and I did that again today. I was taking care of my serve. I was taking my chances on his serve, and the ball was finding the right spots for me."

Nishikori had never faced the monster delivery of Isner and was unable to cope with the power off the big man's racquet. Isner delivered his final ace on match point after 70 minutes.

"He played really well today – everything – I didn't have any chance," said Nishikori, who managed only five winners.

"His forehand, his backhand, he hit some winners from back of the baseline. I couldn't really stop him today."

Nishikori reached the Miami semi-finals a year ago after beating Ferrer and Roger Federer but was unable to play his scheduled match against Djokovic because of a groin injury.

"It's really disappointing to lose today," he said. "But I had a good three matches here. I think I'm playing good again."