Rafael Nadal and Janko Tipsarevic Reach Quarterfinals

Written by: Staff on 27th March 2012

Rafael Nadal and Janko Tipsarevic Reach Quarterfinals

epa03161551 Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return to Kei Nishikori of Japan during their match at the Sony Ericsson Open on Key Biscayne, Florida, USA, 27 March 2012. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT |

by Peter Holehan

(Original Link: http://www.sonyericssonopen.com/News/Tennis/2012/Tournament/Tuesday-2/Nadal-And-Tipsarevic-Reach-Quarterfinals.aspx)

Rafael Nadal, a No. 2 seed and three-time finalist at Miami in 2005, 2008 and 2011, reached the quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive year by knocking out No. 16 seed Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-4, 6-4.

In what has been his biggest challenge thus far in the tournament, the 25-year-old Nadal wilted his way through a slow start.

Nishikori put himself in position to take control of the match, but failed to convert on six of seven break point opportunities in the opening three games of the first set.

Nishikori would have only one another break point chance for the remainder of the match.

Nadal broke Nishikori with a forehand smash to wrap up the first set and then was able to convert two more break point opportunities in the second set.

Nadal, who has yet to drop a set in three matches of this tournament, will face the winner of the No. 6 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France and No. 19 Florian Mayer of Germany.

This was Nishikori’s second best ATP World Tour Masters 1000 result in his career. His best finish came in Shanghai last fall when he reached the semifinals.

Rafael Nadal moved into the Sony Ericsson Open quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive year after a 6-4 6-4 win over Japan’s Kei Nishikori Tuesday in Miami. The three-time former finalist will continue his charge against the winner of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Florian Mayer.

World No. 9 Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia ousted the only unseeded player remaining in the men’s singles draw by topping Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (3), 6-2, in a fourth round match. Break point opportunities were scarce as each player held a distinct advantage on their serve.

Tipsarevic won on 85 percent of all his serves while Dimitrov won on his first serve at an 83 percent rate. But Tipsarevic was able to take advantage of Dimitrov’s much more conservative second serve. The 20-year-old Bulgarian won just eight points on his second serve and Tipsarevic did not face a break point.

Tipsarevic improved to 3-0 in head-to-head meetings and will now face the winner of No. 13 seed Gilles Simon of France and No. 4 seed Andy Murray of Great Britain in a quarterfinal.

Dimitrov, who entered ranked No. 101, is assured to climb inside the Top 100 with his impressive run in Miami. He won three matches including a pair against seeded players by beating No. 7 seed Tomas Berdych and No. 29 Juan Ignacio Chela.

Top-ranked American and No. 8 seed Mardy Fish dispatched No. 12 seeded Nicholas Almagro of Spain 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-3. Fish fired 16 aces and was nearly perfect on his first serve (51 of 53) in his advancement to the quarterfinals.

He’ll face either No. 31 seed Andy Roddick or No. 21 Juan Monaco of Argentina.

Topics: Florian Mayer, French tennis news, German tennis news, GRIGOR DIMITROV, Janko Tipsarevic, Japan tennis news, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Kei Nishikori, Rafael Nadal, Serbian tennis news, Sports