Djokovic Eyes Masters 1000 Double

© Getty ImagesNovak Djokovic has won 25 consecutive matches and is 23-0 on the season.

When will someone be able to figure out Novak Djokovic this season?

Mardy Fish was the Serbian’s latest causality in 2011, as the World No. 2 coasted to a 6-3, 6-1 win after a fairly even first set to advance to his third Sony Ericsson Open final Friday afternoon. Djokovic is yet to have his serve broken in the tournament, saving four more break points in today’s victory. 

“Next to Indian Wells, this is my most successful Masters 1000 event,” Djokovic told www.sonyericssonopen.com after advancing. “It’s unofficially the fifth grand slam and the best players in the world are playing… makes my success here even bigger.”

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The win boosts Djokovic’s quest to become the No. 1 player in the world; last year he was upset in the second round at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Miami, so he will be adding a solid chunk of points to his ranking, and can increase the accumulation with a win on Sunday against World No. 1 Rafael Nadal or two-time Sony Ericsson Open champion Roger Federer. He is looking to become the first ATP World Tour player to pull off the Indian Wells-Miami double since Roger Federer achieved the feat in 2006. (Federer also did it in 2005.)

After play was halted on Djokovic’s serve at 2-2, 15/30 due to rain, play resumed following a 54 minute delay. Fish earned the first break point opportunity of the match after a net-cord dropped on Djokovic’s side at 30/30. The American was unable to capitalise, and after Djokovic held the Serb made his move in the next game – breaking Fish on his third opportunity in a game that lasted nearly nine minutes. “After I came back from the rain delay, from the locker room and the break that we had, I felt different on the court,” disclosed Djokovic to reporters following his win.

“The first couple of games were quite strange. The wind of blowing. It was quite humid. Just different conditions, I guess. I came to the match not really moving well, and was just lucky enough not to go a break down.”

Fish had a chance to get back on serve down 3-5 with a 15-40 opening on the No. 2 seed’s serve, but pushed a routine backhand volley wide and followed it up with two unforced errors. Djokovic closed it out on the next point to end Fish’s hopes. “Those were huge points. It was extremely disappointing,” said a frustrated Fish in his post-match press conference.

“He served a couple of [the break points] away which were too good, and you walk to the other side. But I left a lot shots out there today. That's what's disappointing.”

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Djokovic admitted he was lucky to hold serve in the final game of the first set. “I can't say I've played that point well. It was just lucky that I read his intention with the drive forehand volley. I stayed on the same side and I hit as hard as I can through the middle and he put his volley out.”

The 2007 Sony Ericsson Open champion increased his level of play in the second set, hitting a healthy 77 percent first serves in. On the contrary, Fish only put 41 percent of his first serves in play, eliciting a number of opportunities for the Serbian to attack the American’s second serve, which he did successfully, winning 62 percent of those points and ultimately breaking the Floridian three times in four chances. After winning, he received a warm reception from fans in attendance that saw Djokovic increase his undefeated 2011 season record to 23-0, and 25 matches overall dating back to the Davis Cup Final in December. “There’s a lot of excitement you feel from the crowd... fans love their tennis here,” said Djokovic afterwards to www.sonyericssonopen.com.

“Miami is a great city. I won my first title of the Masters 1000 events here and I definitely have beautiful memories from this event and I want to try and win this trophy again.”

The No. 2 seed has losing records against Nadal (8-16) and Federer (9-13), but has handed the Swiss his only three losses of the season and defeated the Spaniard in the final of Indian Wells two weeks ago. In addition, on hard courts, Djokovic boasts an 8-5 record against Nadal and has eight of his nine wins over Federer on the same surface.

“They just have a fantastic rivalry, and it would be really interesting to see their match tonight, to see who's going to win and prevail… we obviously expect a great fight. They're both big champions, great players. They have been so dominant in the last couple of years.”

Despite having the hard court edge over Nadal, the Serb didn’t divulge a preference in who he wants to play in the final. “I really don't prefer anybody of those two,” laughed Djokovic.

“Whoever I play, I obviously wouldn't feel like a favorite on the court… and by the way, it is a final, so in order for me to win I will have to be on the top of my game against either of those two players.”