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| Nadal |
Any thoughts that Djokovic might have run out of steam are shelved for the moment as he wallops a forehand past Nadal for 0-30, and the Spaniard misfires with a forehand of his own moments later for 15-40 and two break points.... Djoko misses with a backhand on the first, and Nadal then plays an incredible rally that ends with a forehand whipped off his hips into the corner. Break point number three arrives... but Djokovic gets jammed up on a forehand and finds the net. Nadal grabs a vital hold. Looks pretty gusty out there, by the way - not helping either man.
* Nadal 2-1 Djokovic
I've no idea who most people want to win but, from what I've seen, the majority think Nadal will end Djokovic's run today, and he's made a good start. Two wayward Djokovic forehands help Nadal to 15-40 and two break points... and a fizzing backhand sees Nadal convert the second.
Women's champion Victoria Azarenka on Twitter: "At the stadium watching finals Rafa and Novak! Should be an amazing match! Brilliant players! Who u guys support? I can't decide."
Nadal 1-1 Djokovic *
Nadal seems to have rediscovered the fearsome serving this week that helped him win the US Open last year, and a thumping ace takes him to 30-15, but a forehand into the net makes it 30-30 and it's a half-chance for Djokovic. The Serbian misses with a return though, and a backhand into the net gives the Spaniard the game.
* Nadal 0-1 Djokovic
Djokovic breezes through a love hold in his opening service game and looks all business as he marches back to the chair. This time last year, his serve was all over the shop. Twelve months on and he hasn't been broken all week.
denotes NEXT to serve
1808: The players are out on court, Rafa in the bright green and yellow outfit he's been wearing all week in Miami, Nole sticking with the all white topped off by a cap. Djokovic to serve...
5 live's Jonathan Overend on Twitter in Miami: "Last season Djok had one 6-0 set in 79 matches. This year, he has had five in his last 10 matches."
1803: Nadal leads their head-to-head 16-8 but lost in three sets when the pair met in the Indian Wells final a fortnight ago, and he trails the Serbian 8-5 on hard courts. Djokovic has already had the third-best start to a year (23-0) in the last 30 years, and is chasing down two legends in Ivan Lendl (25-0, 1986) and John McEnroe (39-0, 1984). SuperMac was two sets up in his 40th match too, beforelosing the French Open final to Lendl. I imagine that one stung a bit.
Sony Ericsson Open on Twitter: "Forecast for today's men's final...Sunny with temps around 81 degrees. Winds out of the ENE at 10 mph. Should be a beautiful day!"
1755: Electric tennis! That's what we're after this evening as the two best players in the world face each other in the final of what those in Key Biscayne, at least, describe as 'the fifth major'. Which is probably about as meaningful as being 'the fifth Beatle' - you either are or you aren't, surely - but it's certainly a big title and there's plenty on the line for both men. Djokovic is unbeaten in all 23 matches he has played this year (and 25 in total), Nadal is looking to become the first Spaniard to win this event and confirm his status as the numero uno heading into the clay-court season. He tends to do quite well on clay.
Sources: http://news.bbc.co.uk
