Rafa on track for Federer clash; Nishikori ousted
Rafael Nadal took a step closer to a possible final against long-time rival Roger Federer in the Miami Open after a straight sets win over American Jack Sock on Wednesday at Key Biscayne. Nadal’s 6-2, 6-3 win over the 13th-seeded Sock sets up a semifinal meeting with unseeded Italian Fabio Fognini who upset second ranked Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-2 earlier in the day.
The Spaniard’s forehand was ominous as he neutralised Sock in one hour and 22 minutes. Nadal was able to save six of seven break points earned by Sock as he kept control of the contest.
The 30-year-old Spaniard has never won in Miami despite being a four-time finalist and he expects plenty of work to get past Fognini and make it a fifth appearance.
Fognini has three wins from ten meetings with the Spaniard, the most recent coming on clay in Rio de Janiero in 2015.
The 29-year-old world number 40 showed plenty of confidence as he took the game to his Japanese opponent from the outset.
VENUS DOWNS KERBER, TO MEET KONTA
Venus Williams rolled back the years to send world number one the Miami Open on Wednesday and advance to a semifinal showdown with Britain’s Johanna Konta. Williams, at 36 the oldest woman in the field, downed Kerber in straight sets, winning 7-5, 6-3 while Konta fought back to beat Romania’s Simon Halep 3-6, 7-6(9/7), 6-2.
Both results had the element of surprise about them with Kerber the top seed and Halep the third and in good form, but they set up what should be a fascinating contest on Thursday.
ITF SLASHES NUMBER OF PRO PLAYERS
International Tennis Federation (ITF) will restructure the lower levels of the sport in a bid to significantly reduce the number of professional players.
A three-year review by the governing body of professional and junior tennis found not enough players are making a living from the game and that the age of those players is increasing.
Around 14,000 players currently compete in professional events, almost half of whom do not earn any prize money.
The ITF would like to reduce this to no more than 750 men and 750 women and the reforms, which have been approved by the ITF board, is for the introduction of a new Transition Tour