Top seed Novak Djokovic overcame a strong challenge from Belgium's David Goffin to reach the Miami Open final with a 7-6(5) 6-4 victory on Friday as he continued his pursuit of a fifth title in six years on Key Biscayne.
Apr 1, 2016; Key Biscayne, FL, USA; Novak Djokovic celebrates after
match point against David Goffin (not pictured) during a men's singles
semifinal on day twelve of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center.
Djokovic won 7-6(5), 6-4. PHOTO: Reuters/ Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2016; Key Biscayne, FL, USA; Novak Djokovic reaches for a
backhand against David Goffin (not pictured) during a men's singles
semifinal on day twelve of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center.
PHOTO: Reuters/ Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2016; Key Biscayne, FL, USA; Novak Djokovic (R) shakes hands
with David Goffin (L) after their men's singles semifinal on day twelve
of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center. Djokovic won 7-6(5),
6-4. PHOTO: Reuters/ Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2016; Key Biscayne, FL, USA; Novak Djokovic celebrates after his
match against David Goffin (not pictured) during a men's singles
semifinal on day twelve of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center.
Djokovic won 7-6(5), 6-4. PHOTO: Reuters/ Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2016; Key Biscayne, FL, USA; David Goffin serves against Novak
Djokovic (not pictured) during a men's singles semifinal on day twelve
of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center. PHOTO: Reuters/ Geoff
Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2016; Key Biscayne, FL, USA; Novak Djokovic hits a volley
against David Goffin (not pictured) during a men's singles semifinal on
day twelve of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center. PHOTO:
Reuters/ Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2016; Key Biscayne, FL, USA; David Goffin hits a forehand
against Novak Djokovic (not pictured) during a men's singles semifinal
on day twelve of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center. PHOTO:
Reuters/ Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
REUTERS: Top seed Novak Djokovic overcame a strong challenge
from Belgium's David Goffin to reach the Miami Open final with a 7-6(5)
6-4 victory on Friday as he continued his pursuit of a fifth title in
six years on Key Biscayne.
The Serbian world number one shrugged off a slow start to
the match before hitting his stride, and sealed the win with a powerful
first serve that forced a wayward Goffin return to end an encounter that
lasted just over two hours.
Australian Open champion Djokovic improved his stellar
record for the year to 27-1 and will next face either Japan's Kei
Nishikori or Australian Nick Kyrgios, who were scheduled to play their
semi-final later on Friday.
The 28-year-old Djokovic, a five-times champion in Miami, is
bidding to match Andre Agassi's record of six titles at the event and
earn a record 28th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown.
Djokovic and Goffin traded service breaks in the seventh and
eighth games of the match before taking a marathon opening set into a
tiebreak which the Serb clinched 7-5 after his opponent, reaching high
for a lob, hit a backhand volley into the net.
The second set went with serve until the seventh game when
the 15th-seeded Goffin hit a forehand long before netting a backhand to
be broken and trail 3-4.
Djokovic then comfortably served out to book his place in
Sunday's final at Crandon Park where he will seek to add another Miami
Open crown to his previous titles in 2007, 2011, 2012, 2014 and last
year.
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Larry Fine)
- Reuters
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