SPORTS Friday, March 31, 2017 21 Miami Nadal. Fognini has three wins from ten afael Nadal took a step closer to a meetings with the Spaniard, the most possible final against long-time rival recent coming on clay in Rio de Janiero RogerR Federer in the Miami Open after in 2015. a straight sets win over American Jack The 29-year-old world number 40 Sock on Wednesday at Key Biscayne. showed plenty of confidence as he took Durasovic Nadal’s 6-2, 6-3 win over the the game to his Japanese opponent from 13th-seeded Sock sets up a semi-final the outset. meeting with unseeded Italian Fabio It was the Italian’s first victory in three Fognini who upset second ranked Kei attempts over Nishikori and his first Nishikori 6-4, 6-2 earlier in the day. Masters series quarter-final win since The Spaniard’s forehand was ominous 2013, when he reached the last four in breezes as he neutralised Sock in one hour and Monte-Carlo. 22 minutes. Nadal was able to save six of seven break points earned Nadal on past by Sock as he kept control of the contest. He broke track for Sock in the American’s first Fallert Florian (GER) service game and Konecny swiftly established a 3-0 Federer advantage and a second Aidan Payne/DTNN bt (5)Markus Eriksson break at 5-2 wrapped up the [email protected] (Swe) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 opening set. showdown orway’s Viktor 6) Nik Razborsek (Slo) The American showed Durasovic was a w/o (3)Sanjar Fayziev his spirit though as he broke N7-6(7), 6-4 winner over (Uzb) Nadal at the start of the second seeded Michal 7) Viktor Durasovic second but was unable to Konecny of the Czech (Nor) bt (7)Tobias take advantage of a double Republic ranked 337 Simon (Ger) 6-2, 5-7, break that could have put yesterday in the quarter 6-4 (2) him 3-0 up. finals of the Men’s Singles 8) Michal Konecny Instead Nadal pulled at the Sixth Bahrain (Cze) bt Mubarak back to 2-2 and with International Tennis Shannan Zayid (Qat) Sock failing to make Federation (ITF) Futures 6-3, 5-3 ret. the most of a chance Men’s Professional Quarter finals: of further break points Tournament at the 1) Ruben Gonzales it was comfortable in Bahrain Tennis Club (Phi)/ the end. premises in Juffair. (Ned) w/o Kevin The 30-year-old The second remaining Viktor Durasovic (NOR) Griekspoor (Ned)/ Spaniard has never seed from (Ned) won in Miami despite Zimbabwe and ranked sixth also edition is being held under 2) Anis Ghorbel (Tun)/Jorge being a four-time finalist crashed out losing 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to the patronage of HH Shaikh Montero (Chi) bt Tom Kocevar- and he expects plenty of Germany’s Florian Fallert. Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Desman (Slo)/Nik Razborsek work to get past Fognini In other matches, Mick Lescure Representative of His Majesty (Slo) 6-3, 7-6(2) and make it a fifth of France beat compatriot Baptiste the King for Charity Works and 3) Florian Fallert (Ger)/Jonas appearance. Crepatte 7-6(3), 6-4 and Slovenian Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Merckx (Bel) bt (4)Francis Casey “We know each other Tom Kocevar-Desman received Supreme Council for Youth and Alcantara bt Benjamin Lock very well. He has beaten a walkover win from fellow Sports and President of Bahrain (Zim) 6-3, 6-4, (2) me a couple of times and countryman Nik Razborsek. Olympic Committee. 4) Markus Eriksson (Swe)/ so it will be a good test. I am Meanwhile, in the Men’s Second round singles (seeds in Milos Sekulic (Swe) bt Anderson happy to be the semi-finals Doubles semi-finals, top seeds brackets): Reed (US)/Matt Seeberger (US) but it will be a tough one and I Ruben Gonzales from the 1) Baptiste Crepatte (Fra) bt Anis 6-1, 6-4. will need to play my best,” said Rafael Nadal of Spain Philippines and Sem Verbeek were Ghorbel (Tun) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 Today schedule: 6-3, 4-6, 11-9 winners over third 2) Mick Lescure (Fra) bt (8) Men’s Semi-finals (2.30pm): seeded ’s Anis Ghorbel Jonas Merckx (Bel) 6-3, 6-4 Mick Lescure (Fra) vs Florian and Chilean Jorge Montero 3) Florian Fallert (Ger) bt (4) Fallert (Ger) and German Florian Fallert and Filip Horansky (Svk) 7-6(4), 6-1, Tom Kocevar-Desman (Slo) vs Venus downs Kerber Belgian Jonas Merckx were 6-4, (6) Viktor Durasovic (Nor). Miami had the element of surprise about them 6-2 winners over Swedish double 4) Benjamin Lock (Zim) bt Men’s Doubles final (5pm): enus Williams rolled back the with Kerber the top seed and Halep the pair Markus Eriksson and Milos Abdullah Maqdes (Kuw) 3-6, 6-2, Ruben Gonzales (Phi)/Sem years to send world number one third and in good form, but they set up Sekulic. 6-1 Verbeek (Ned) vs Florian Fallert AngeliqueV Kerber crashing out of the what should be a fascinating contest on The championship in its sixth 5) Tom Kocevar-Desman (Slo) (Ger)/Jonas Merckx (Bel) Miami Open on Wednesday and advance Thursday. to a semi- final showdown The other semi-final pits Denmark’s with Britain’s Caroline Wozniacki against second-seed Johanna Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic. Konta. With the local crowd behind her, Williams, Williams, a three-time winner at Miami at 36 the clearly believed she could topple the oldest German but the first set saw both players woman struggle to hold their serves. in the The American broke Kerber four field, times while Williams failed to hold serve downed twice, but the contest was more one- Kerber sided in the second set. in straight Williams raced to a 4-1 lead before sets, winning Kerber broke back and started to 7-5, 6-3 while produce some great shots as she battled Konta fought back in vain to save the match. to beat Romania’s “It was an interesting match. I was Simon Halep 3-6, controlling it. I had more errors than I 7-6(9/7), 6-2. like and lower first serve percentage than Venus Williams Florain Fallart & Merckx Jonas Both results I would like,” said Williams. waves to the crowd