Miami Master Series preview

This week will see the second Masters Series event of the year get under way in Miami.

The top two players in the world are yet to win a title this season, and will both be looking to change that here. However Federer has lost the air of invincibility he has been shrouded in for the last three years, whilst more and more opponents seem to be finding ways of hitting through Nadal’s heroic defense.

Novak Djokovic is without a doubt the form player in the world at the moment, and he has an excellent chance of defending the title he claimed here last year. Andy Roddick, who started the season so well, will be hoping to avenge his early loss at Indian Wells by having a good run in Miami, and if he finds his serve there are not many who can stop him.

On the British side of things, both Alex Bogdanovic and Anne Keothavong failed to make it through qualification. A-Bog went out to Serbian Victor Troicki 6-4 3-6 6-1 in the first round, whilst Keothavong made it to the second round before going out to the number four seed Anastasia Rodinova 6-1 3-6 6-3.

So, once again Andy Murray is our only British hope, and the Scot has been handed a very tough draw. He has a bye into the second round, but is likely to find himself up against the in form wildcard Mario Ancic. But, if he make it through that match he will fancy his chances of making it through to the semi-finals, where he could meet Roger Federer.

Djokovic fries Fish to take title

Novak Djokovic ended Mardy Fish’ dream of a first Masters Series title, defeating the plucky American 6-2 5-7 6-3 to clinch the win.

It was the Serb’s third Masters Series title, and not even the most ardent Fish supporter could argue that he did not deserve it, having played the best tennis consistenly all week.

Credit must go to the runner up Fish though, who has now risen 58 places in the rankings. He started the week only just inside the top 100 (98th) but now finds himself 40th, and certainly did not disgrace himself against Djokovic.

Fish started slowly, perhaps fatigued from exertions earlier in the week, and Djokovic broke him twice in the first set to take in comfortably. The world no.3 broke again early in the second and took a 4-2 lead, the situation looking ominous for the American. But showing the kind of courage and determination that has been his calling card at Indian Wells, Fish fought back to break Djokovic twice, winning the set 7-5.

Then came the crucial moment in the match, as ‘The Serbinator’ held off three break points against his serve, serving three aces and two unreturnables to win five straight points to take the game from 0-40. This gave him the impetus he needed, and the very next game he broke Fish and from then on the result never looked in doubt.

All in all, a very exciting weeks tennis, and whilst not quite the emergence of a new star, we are seeing a forgotten one shining bright again.

Fish stuns Federer to meet Djokovic in final

Mardy Fish produced some of the best tennis of his life to win the biggest match of his career so far.

He overwhelmed the world No.1 Roger Federer 6-3 6-2 to progress to his second Masters Series final. The last time he was at this stage, it was at the Cinncinati Masters in 2003, where he lost to Andy Roddick after holding two match points.

Despite having spent six more hours on court this week than the Swiss master, Fish looked the fresher of the two in the opening exchanges, breaking Federer in his first service game. It was the only break he needed to take the first set, and the American went on to break Federer twice more in the second set to wrap up a comfortable victory.

Next up for the flying Fish is world No.3 Novak Djokovic who produced an equally devastating performance to beat Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2. The Serbian went down an early break, but fought back ferociously to break Nadal three times over the match. The Spaniard blamed his poor performance on being tired from gruelling encounters against Jo Wilfried-Tsonga and James Blake.

Djokovic goes into the final a clear favourite, but then, so did all of Fish’ other opponents this week!

Indian Wells Masters Series preview

So we come to the first Masters Series event of the year, always an exciting time, and this year even more so, now that it appears Roger Federer is human after all.

The world No.1 has not made his usual perfect start to the year, losing to Novak Djokovic at the Austrailian Open, and then being dumped out of the Dubai Open unceremoniously by our own Andy Murray.

Some believe this will spark the decline of Federer, but there are those (myself included) who believe that he will come back stronger than ever, and that is why he is my pick for the tournament. I just cant see that his pride will let him be beaten once again.

Elsewhere in the exceptionally strong draw, which can be viewed here, Novak Djokovic and defending champion Rafael Nadal will both fancy their chances, and could find themselves up against one another if they make it to the semi’s. If that happens, I would fancy Nadal to edge it; the courts have a high bounce, and the Spaniard’s extravagant topspin forehand will simply be too high for Djokovic to handle.

Flamboyant Frenchman Richard Gasquet has said that he likes the courts at Indian Wells, and with his explosive backhand, he could be a force this week. Gasquet has a relatively easy path to the quarter finals, where he could meet Nadal, who he has not beaten in four meetings.

Andy Murray has been playing well by and large this year, but the Scot has a tough draw. He is likely to face the huge serving Ivo Karlovic in the third round, and then the equally huge serving and in form Andy Roddick in the next. Then if the British number 1 can make it through all of that, he will probably find himself up against Roger Federer. No problem then Andy.

Elsewhere his older brother Jamie is in doubles action with the Beast from Belarus, Max Mirnyi. The pair have played well since coming together at the start of this season, and could be an outside shout for the title this week.

Let play commence!