While Nadal played in the relative comfort of the late afternoon, Kei Nishikori needed three sets and almost three hours under a merciless midday sun to advance, outlasting Spain’s Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (2) 6-7 (5) 6-1.
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Russian seventh seed Kuznetsova, the runner-up past year, stayed on track for another tilt at the championship when she beat American qualifier Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-2.
6-3 victory on Wednesday (AEDT) propelled the in-form Australian into his fourth quarter-final in as many events.
Fognini will play the victor of the quarter-final between Rafael Nadal and Jack Sock in the next round. “I mean, yeah, the more matches you win the better you feel, the more confident you are”. “It doesn’t matter who I am playing”.
This is, of course, regarding the ATP rankings – with Nadal set to return to the world’s top five alongside his friendly foe, Roger Federer.
“A tough match overall”, Federer said of his encounter with Spaniard Bautista Agut.
Fognini, 29, became the first Italian to reach the Miami semifinals in tournament history.
Nishikori – a finalist at Key Biscayne a year ago – rallied from a break down in the final set to beat Federico Delbonis 6-3 4-6 6-3.
Nadal was outstanding in his serve against Mahut as he won 92 per cent of his first-serve points. He’s now 18-4 and, despite the loss to Rafa, has beaten four of the past six top-10 players he has played. That year Sock was seeded 23rd when he became the youngest USA man to reach the fourth round at Roland Garros since Pete Sampras in 1993.
Rafael Nadal rolled past Jack Sock to set up a semifinal clash with Fabio Fognini in Miami. We’re fresh off a very productive day in terms of tennis betting as we went 3-0 on Tuesday.
“Nadal will now lock horns with Italy’s Fabio Fognini for a place in the summit showdown. Obviously, it’s good news because that says I am having a long career”, said Nadal. I’m excited about playing that semifinals match against a player who’s playing very, very well during the whole week.
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In the women’s side, world number one Angelique Kerber came back from a break down in both sets to beat American Shelby Rogers 6-4, 7-5 and move into the fourth round at the Miami Open.
