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Nadal cruises past Fognini into Miami Open final

Saturday, 01 April 2017 12:07 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 01 April 2017 12:07 PM ]

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating Fabio Fognini of Italy in the semi finals at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 31, 2017 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (AFP)

Spain’s Rafael Nadal has reached the final of the Miami Open for the fifth time on Friday following a 6-1, 7-5 victory over unseeded Italian Fabio Fognini in Key Biscayne.

The 29-yearold Italian who became the first unseeded player in 10 years to make the last four by beating Kei Nishikori, wanted to make history by stopping Rafa Nadal from reaching his fifth Miami Open final.

Nadal found an early break to lead Fognini 3-1. Fognini struggled after a poor start against the Spaniard who did not face a single break point. Fifth seed Nadal raced through the first set 6-1 in 25 minutes.

And in the second set, Fognini showed some steel despite a calf problem. Yet he handed Nadal the chance to serve for the match in the worst possible way as the Spaniard served the game out to win 6-1, 7-5.

Nadal has never won the Miami Open, despite reaching the final, four times in the past. He managed to reach the Miami Open final in 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2014.

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