Nadal sets up Federer semi showdown; Sharapova reaches final
The duo, who have won 110 ATP Tour titles between them, will meet on U.S. soil for the first time since 2005 -- which was also the last year they clashed at the last-four stage of a tournament, the French Open.
Nadal battled past Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych in Thursday’s second quarterfinal after No. 3 Federer received easy passage when Frenchman Gilles Simon retired with a neck injury while 3-0 down in the opening set.
Nadal was beaten by Federer in five sets in the 2005 Miami final, having stunned the Swiss as a 17-year-old in the third round of the same event the previous year.
Since then Nadal has won 13 of their 20 clashes -- 12 of them in finals.
In the beginning I struggled to embrace the rivalry I had with Rafa. Only later on I was able to say, ’This is actually quite cool’.
"Very few times we’ve played in the semifinals of a tournament. The rest of the matches are finals and important for big titles," the Spaniard told the ATP website.
"It’s always special to play against him and have these matches, very important matches for both of our careers: finals of Roland Garros, finals of Wimbledon, of Australian Open, a lot of finals in Masters 1000s.
"That makes the rivalry very, very special. I don’t know if rivals in the rest of the history of tennis played as many matches as we’ve played."
Nadal will go into the showdown troubled by a worrying problem in his right arm, which affected his movement in the 6-2 3-6 6-3 win over last year’s runner-up Berdych -- who he also beat in the 2010 Wimbledon final.
"First time in my life I felt something like this, it’s really strange. Especially since the left arm I could do aggressive movements, but the right was really strange. Seriously, I couldn’t understand during the match what happened," the two-time Miami runner-up said.
Federer, also the 2006 champion at Crandon Park, has a 5-2 advantage over Nadal in hard-court events.
"I think in the beginning, early on in my career when I became the world No. 1, I didn’t really have that rival, and I was very happy about it," the 16-time grand slam champion said.
"I was just able to win, win, win, and dominate and go on and lose, you know, 10 matches in two years kind of thing. That was quite incredible. So in the beginning I guess I struggled to embrace the rivalry I had with Rafa.
"Only later on I was able to say, ’This is actually quite cool.’ Sleeveless, pirate pants, you name it -- long hair, lefty, spins, more with the flat shots and so forth, and double-handed against one-handed, lefty against righty. I think it all kind of made sense, and I was able to embrace it then.
"I think we had some good times in the past, and they have changed into what it is today. Really respectful and helping each other for good causes, foundation matches, you name it, for tsunamis. We’ve done so many things together. It’s been a lot of fun."
The winner of the Nadal-Federer tie is likely to face a player who is threatening to end their dominance of the men’s game, Novak Djokovic.
The Serbian is unbeaten in 22 matches this year, and defeated both icons on his way to victory at Indian Wells last time out.
His semifinal win over Federer in the California desert lifted him to second in the rankings, and he will be seeking his second Miami title if he can beat new American No. 1 Mardy Fish for the sixth successive time in Friday’s opening semifinal.
In the women’s event, two-time runner-up Maria Sharapova will play 2009 champion Victoria Azarenka in Saturday’s final.
Sharapova, who will return to the top-10 for the first time since 2009 following her recent run of good results, avenged her Australian Open defeat by Germany’s Andrea Petkovic.
The Russian triumphed 3-6 6-0 6-2, winning 11 games in a row after losing the first set.
"I’m really happy I’m back in the finals here," the 2005 and 2006 losing finalist said of her first Miami outing in four years.
"I’m almost lucky to be here. I had a tough one the other night and another three-setter today. Andrea has been playing the best tennis of her career and beat some good players here, so I was really happy I was able to change things around after losing the first set."
Eighth seed Azarenka of Belarus followed up her win over defending champion Kim Clijsters with a 6-3 6-3 win over Vera Zvonareva that ended the Russian’s hopes of reclaiming the No. 2 ranking from the Belgian this weekend.
Azarenka reached her 12th career WTA final, and will be seeking her sixth title.
NEWS FEED
5.0-magnitude quake hits Vancouver Island, Canada Region: GFZ
Iran reiterates commitment to IAEA cooperation
Russian, Turkish senior diplomats discuss situation in Gaza
No snap elections before delimiting borders with Azerbaijan, Armenian PM says
Azerbaijan's Cabinet of Ministers convenes to address implementation of order electric vehicle promotion
Azerbaijan marks 31st anniversary of Bashlibel tragedy
US President endorses House aid package for Israel and Ukraine,
India ranked world's most populous country with 1.44 bln people — UN foundation
Axios: Israel considered retaliation against Iran, but postponed attack
CHP leader supports Azerbaijan in PACE-VIDEO
Turkish FM: "On case of establishment of independent state of Palestine, military wing of HAMAS may be suspended"
Turkish FM: "Countries of region do not want third parties to bring their own conflicts to this geography"
Russia maintains constructive dialogue with both Iran, Israel — Kremlin
NATO Secretary-General discusses Ukraine's urgent needs with Zelenskyy
NATO Secretary-General to join meeting of G7 FMs
Azerbaijani FM meets with CICA Secretary General
Israel makes own decisions, Netanyahu says after Cameron talks
Russian peacekeepers are leaving Garabagh, equipment also withdrawn-VIDEO
NATO-Ukraine Council will meet Friday to discuss air defense, Stoltenberg says
Peacekeepers no longer needed in Garabagh - First Deputy Chairman of Russian State Duma Committee
Turkish FM meets with HAMAS leader
AZAL and DFS Aviation Services Agree to Modernize Laçin Airport-PHOTO
New footages of Russian peacekeepers leaving Garabagh circulate in social media -VIDEO
Azerbaijan and Albania cancel visa regime
Russian attack kills 15, injures 61 in Ukraine's Chernihiv-UPDATED-1
Azerbaijan's Pardon Issues Commission holds meeting, considers more than 100 applications
Azerbaijan to make action plan on election of Shusha as "Youth Capital of OIC" -ORDER
MoD: Combined Arms Army’s Air Force held tactical-special exercise-VIDEO
EU calls passing of law on foreign influence by Georgian Parliament "very concerning development"
Hamas leader Haniyeh to visit Türkiye for talks with Erdogan
Shooting in Tbilisi left three injured
Georgian opposition calls on citizens for protest
Azerbaijan participates in Digital Innovation Summit in Bucharest
Parisian stance: France is experiencing diplomatic stress in its relations with Azerbaijan and taking chaotic steps -ANALYTICS
New Caledonian delegation visits office of NAM Youth Organization in Baku-PHOTO
Hikmet Hajiyev: The withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Azerbaijani territory ahead of schedule has been decided by the leaders of both countries
Pakistan blocked social media platform X over national security, ministry says
Georgian parliament adopts draft law "On Transparency of Foreign Influence"
“Her Action in Art” festival: celebrating women's contributions in art
Azerbaijan Railways CJSC holds meeting with EU on development of Middle Corridor
12 dead in five-way road crash in Jhalakathi, Bangladesh
Representing Ukraine in friendly Azerbaijan was an honor for me - Ambassador
Delegation of New Caledonia visited Church of Virgin Mary in Baku
Kremlin confirms withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Azerbaijan's Garabagh
France has done everything to spoil relations with Azerbaijan - MP Soltanov
Azerbaijan, UAE mull First Phase Absheron gas project
SOCAR unveils volume of oil transported through Baku-Supsa pipeline
Armenian PM visits border with Azerbaijan's Gazakh-UPDATED
President Ilham Aliyev received Secretary General of Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building in Asia-UPDATED
Cameron: Israel has made a decision to respond to Iran attack