OK, we’re going to wrap up this blog now. Congratulations to Novak Djokovic, the most successful ATP Masters player of all time. Nishikori will hope he’s recovered in time for the French Open.
Thanks for reading. Goodbye.
Djokovic comes up to collect his sixth Miami Open title.
“Congratulations, Kei, on a great tournament, but I hope you don’t get me next time.
“I want to thank everybody participating in this event. It’s one of the best tournaments we have in our sport. Very faithful sponsors and volunteers; everyone is contributing as much as they can.
“I have a very special connection to this tournament, and it’s been a springboard for everything, so I always love coming back here.
“I hope the love affair continues, and I want to thank my team. I want to thank all you guys for making this tournament extra special: you’re wonderful fans, and I don’t know how much you follow the stories, but I assure you it’s going to stay here for a long time. See you next year!”
Nishikori: “Well played to Novak. I hope I can get you next time!”
“A tough match as always; playing Djokovic is always a great challenge for me, and I always love to come back to Miami. Thanks for my team, and I hope I can win a Masters championship next time.”
The presentations are being made, so we’ll just stick around to hear from the players.
Updated
A disappointing match, in truth. Djokovic wasn’t his usual stellar self, and was broken twice, but Nishikori seemed to really struggle with nerves, and made a slew of unforced errors. Djokovic picked it up in the second set and showed one or two flashes of brilliance, but it wasn’t a final to savour. Djokovic wraps it up in 1hr 26 mins.
That was quite a final game. Djokovic missed two break point chances at the end, but finally got it after Nishikori again totally shanked a regulation forehand. Djokovic wins 6-3 6-3, and the becomes the most successful Masters player of all time.
Novak Djokovic wins his 28th Masters championship!
Djokovic 6-3 6-3 Nishikori
At the very least, Nishikori should make Djokovic serve for his title. And he moves 15-0 ahead after two successive let calls by the umpire. And was that in? Nishikori whipped a backhand winner cross-court, and it was called out, but it looked super close. No challenge from Nishikori. Never mind: he goes up 30-15 with a forehand winner after sending Djokovic out wide, but that’s too good from Djokovic! An outstanding forehand from the baseline, back behind Nishikori as the Japanese moved back to the middle. 30-30. Djokovic nets, and it’s 40-30, but then totally controls the point to set up deuce. He’s close!
But that’s an outburst of rage from Djokovic: he missed a forehand winner, and although he challenged the call, it was out. Cue a barrage of expletives in Serbian. Advantage Nishikori, but then he double faults! And throws his racquet in anger! it’s all happening, and we’re back to deuce. And is that another double fault from Nishikori?! It is! What a time to make it. Advantage Djokovic, and it’s championship point.
But his service return is long! And we’re at deuce again. Another error from Nishikori, and it’s Djokovic’s second championship point – but again he can’t take it! Nishikori’s forehand took Djokovic out wide, and the Serb could only find the net. Third deuce.
Advantage Djokovic again after Nishikori is long, and this time Djokovic wraps it up! Game, set and match, and Novak Djokovic is the all-time ATP title leader!
Updated
Second set: Djokovic 6-3 5-3 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)
New balls, and a controlled down-the-line passing shot gives Djokovic a 15-0 lead. Then Djokovic puts away a cross-court winner, all made by a bullet of a first serve. 30-0. Nishikori’s return is wild after a punchy exhange, and Djokovic goes to 40-0, before holding his service to love and moving to within a game of a record 28th ATP title. What a supreme athlete this guy is.
Just a three-minute timeout, and we’re back. Djokovic cracked his racquet at the end of that game – you could see a small shard of plastic fly up. Pure frustration.
We’re having a medical timeout: Nishikori has a problem in his knee, and the trainer is on.
Updated
Second set: *Djokovic 6-3 4-3 Nishikori (*denotes next server)
Djokovic is opening up his shoulders on the forehand side, and he’s got another sniff of a break here at 15-30. Nishikori levels when Djokovic finds the net, but then Djokovic plays the most absurd cross-court forehand on the run! He had no right to get to that: Nishikori’s volley was extremely well placed, but he pumped those legs, and with a flick of the wrist, found the white line! Brilliant, and a break point, which Nishikori saves!
Nishikori moves ahead, and then Djokovic misplaces a forehand winner that he should have put away. He chucks his racquet on the floor and yells his frustration – he knows he should have broken there.
Second set: Djokovic 6-3 4-2 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic might as well start ripping it here, otherwise he’s going out with a whimper. Djokovic forces the issue for 15-0, and then puts Nishikori’s half-court ball away for 30-0. Nishikori nets, and just like that it’s 40-0. Djokovic breezing through this game here. And what a shot to finish! Way back behind the baseline, Djokovic just finds the corner with a lovely down-the-line backhand. Super stuff.
Second set: Djokovic 6-3 3-2 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)
Darren Cahill and Brad Gilbert are in agreement: Nishikori is not doing himself justice. “These are regulation shots that Kei can usually make in his sleep,” says Cahill. “I just think it’s nerves,” replies Gilbert. We’re at 15-15, but that’s a good piece of play from Nishikori, comes forward and dispatching the volley. 30-15, and then 40-15, and then Djokovic’s ambitious two-handed backhand down the line is wide. Solid hold from Nishikori, and he needed that.
Updated
Second set: Djokovic 6-3 3-1 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic, remember, is looking for his sixth Miami Open title, which would bring him level with Andre Agassi. A chance for Nishikori at 15-30, but Djokovic plays the big points so well, finding a passing lane down the line and bringing himself level. Djokovic has responded to scoreboard pressure so much better than Nishikori, and the latter’s backhand is wide of the mark. 40-30, and Nishikori is frustrated. But that’s an error from Djokovic, and we’ll go to deuce.
No problem for Djokovic, and he serves out the game in no time to move closer to that 28th title.
Second set: *Djokovic 6-3 2-1 Nishikori (*denotes next server)
Nishikori has battled gamely, but he’s made so many unforced errors, and that’s another one: 15-15. But that’s better from Nishikori, and more positive: coming to the net and forcing Djokovic to play a ball that he could barely reach. 30-15, and more improved play from Nishikori for 40-15: he’s finally started to show some aggression.
But just as quickly, Nishikori shows his other side: a double fault for 40-30, and then another wild backhand that miles wide. Deuce. But that’s a superb first serve that Djokovic can barely lay a racquet on – advantage Nishikori – and then he holds his nerve to get on the board. Well played.
Second set: Djokovic 6-3 2-0 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)
Nishikori had to put that smash away, but his effort was meek, and Djokovic scrambled to recover, and then Nishikori’s volley was wide. So tough for the Japanese now: Djokovic isn’t in the habit of relinquishing leads.
Fifteen-love Djokovic, but that’s better from Nishikori, moving Djokovic around for 15-15. But Djokovic responds beautifully in the game’s best rally: Nishikori can’t make the return after a supreme forehand on the run from the Serb. Thirty-fieteen, and now 40-15, and this is looking ominous. Game point Djokovic, and that’s a lovely whipped forehand for a clear winner.
Djokovic breaks again!
Second set: *Djokovic 6-3 1-0 Nishikori (*denotes next server)
Nishikori needs to crank up his first serves: his first-service percentage is close to 60%, but he’s only won 43% of points on his first serve. A decent start to the second set from Nishikori, moving to 30-0, but Djokovic responds well, and we’re level, and now Djokovic holds his nerve to earn another break point! A long rally, both players reluctant to commit, but Nishikori blinked first. Nishikori needs to hold here, but he can’t put away a simple smash, and Djokovic goes ahead in the second! What a mistake from the Japanese, and he’s in serious trouble here.
That wasn’t the sumptuous best we’ve been used to from Djokovic, but he did enough. Nishikori showed some great touches, but an excess of nerves, too: several of his service games were well below par.
Djokovic wins the first set
Djokovic 6-3 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)
What a shot from Djokovic! Leading 15-0, Djokovic picks one up from almost on the ground, and with a kind of bunt follow-through finds the winner down the line. Superb. Thirty-love, and now 40-0, and three set points: and Djokovic only needs one – the world No1 takes the first set in 35 minutes, and Nishikori has it all to do.
Updated
Djokovic breaks!
Djokovic* 5-3 Nishikori (*denotes next server)
What a moment just then: Nishikori hit his winner, and it was right on the line, but Djokovic didn’t challenge, and Hawk-Eye showed it was out by a significant margin. So strange: Djokovic is usually so quick to challenge.
No matter: it wasn’t called, and Nishikori can level here at 4-4. But he needs to cut out these basic mistakes: that’s 11 unforced errors now, and it’s 0-30. Back to 15-30, but then Nishikori’s forehand is wild: well, well out on Djokovic’s right side, and two more break chances for Djokovic.
Nishikori saves one after Djokovic nets, but Nishikori totally shanks a regulation forehand, prompting an “Oh my goodness!” from Chris Fowler: game Djokovic, and now he has the chance to serve for the set.
Nishikori breaks!
Djokovic 4-3 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)
Brad Gilbert on commentary suggests Nishikori needs to “stop this Djokovic freight train”. Quite so, but it’s easier said than done. Djokovic wins his ninth straight point on serve, but Nishikori rallies for 15-15. And then Djokovic throws in a double fault! The first of the match, and Nishikori has a chance at 15-30.
And now 15-40! Great defence there from the Japanese, and Djokovic is wide on the left side. Two break points for Nishikori. And his inside-out winner is good! What a response.
Updated
Djokovic breaks!
Djokovic* 4-2 Nishikori (*denotes next server)
Nishikori looking to give his groundstrokes everything, but his cross-court forehand is long. Djokovic mimics Nishikori’s error and we’re level at 15-15. Nishikori looks for a winner down the line, but his accuracy is off, and Djokovic has a sniff at 15-30.
But Djokovic is too deep with a backhand from the back court, and Nishikori breathes a sigh of relief: 30-30. Then huge cheers from the Miami crowd as Nishikori moves to 40-30 – they want their money’s worth. Djokovic won’t be denied, however, and he moves his opponent all round the court before Nishikori dumps one into the net. Deuce.
That’s a terrific reply from Djokovic, going cross-court, and a chance to break … which he takes! Two for two break point conversions, and Djokovic goes 4-2 ahead.
Updated
Djokovic 3-2 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic taking plenty of time with his ball bounces, just trying to dictate the tempo, and he moves easily to 30-0. His first serve is right on the line, called out, and Nishikori can’t return, but Djokovic challenges, and it was in: that should have been Djokovic’s point.
No matter: Djokovic moves to 40-0, and that’s the game. Djokovic is finding the groove with his serve. A second successive game to love for Nole.
Djokovic* 2-2 Nishikori (*denotes next server)
Nishikori needs to settle here: that last game passed in a blur. Nishikori’s backhand is right on the line, and Djokovic challenges, but it was good. 15-0. Nishikori moves to 30-0, but Djokovic crunches a two-handed backhand for a clear winner, and then Nishikori feathers one from the backcourt into the net. 30-30, but that’s a great serve from Nishikori: right on the T, and Djokovic’s return is long. Nishikori serves out for an important hold. Two sets each.
Djokovic 2-1 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)
Was it just an early blip for Djokovic? He’s into his rhythm here, and moves effortlessly to 40-0. Then he’s all over Nishikori at the net, and the return is long. Game Djokovic: that’s a solid hold to love.
Djokovic breaks back!
Djokovic* 1-1 Nishikori (*denotes next server)
It’s aquamarine versus red today: Djokovic a study in blue, while is Nishikori is clad in scarlet. Nishikori wearing a white hat; Djokovic, as usual, free of headgear.
Nishikori comes to the net, but his volley is not nearly deep enough, and Djokovic puts away the backhand winner. Then Nishikori can only find the net, and suddenly it’s 0-30. Djokovic clips the top of the net for 15-30, but two misfires from Nishikori means Djokovic breaks right back!
Nishikori breaks!
Djokovic 0-1 Nishikori* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic quickly into his rhythm for 15-0, but that’s a good response from Nishikori: a cross-court forehand for a clear winner and 15-all. Nice from the Japanese, and then Djokovic hits the net with a regulation volley he should have put away. And a chance for Nishikori as Djokovic nets! Two break points for Nishikori, and he only needs one! What a strange opening set: Djokovic looked extremely sluggish.
Let's play tennis!
Djokovic to serve.
The players are just knocking up. We’re very close.
An early, and remarkable, statistic: Djokovic has won 17 straight sets in finals.
Weather report
It’s warm but overcast in Miami: about 78F (26C), but the rain should hold off. It’s not quite as humid as it has been. A best-of-three final, remember, although maybe we should expect just the two, since Djokovic is yet to drop a set in this tournament.
Updated
This game is the last on the spring hard courts before we move to the French clay, and Djokovic has been in peerless form: 21 straight Masters wins, 11 straight Masters final, and 22 sets overall since dropping his first set at Indian Wells
“It’s tough to see any athlete in any sport who’s been this dominant,” admits Darren Cahill on ESPN.
Hello and welcome
For Novak Djokovic, a chance to make history. The world’s best player is tied with Rafa Nadal for the most number of ATP titles, but can move clear of the Spaniard with victory today. He’s the heavy favorite against Kei Nishikori: the Serb has claimed the previous five encounters, including a straight-sets victory in this year’s Australian Open quarter-finals, and has been in top form here in south Florida. The Japanese, in only his second ATP final, has a giant job to take the trophy.
We’ll be getting under way in a few minutes. This should be fun.
Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, read how Victoria Azarenka clinched her third Miami title:
“This just gives me even more inspiration and motivation to keep working harder,” Azarenka said in a courtside interview.
“I’m very happy that all the work that I’ve been putting in is paying off. It’s such a great opportunity to play the whole month so consistent.”
Updated
