Novak Djokovic through to Miami Open final after battling win
Saturday 2 April 2016 16:10, UK
Top seed Novak Djokovic overcame a strong challenge from David Goffin to reach the Miami Open final with a 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 victory on Friday.
The Serbian world No 1 shrugged off a slow start to the match before hitting his stride, and sealed the win with a powerful first serve that forced a wayward Goffin return to end an encounter that lasted just over two hours.
Australian Open champion Djokovic improved his stellar record for the year to 27-1 as he continued his bid to secure a fifth title in six years at Key Biscayne.
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The 28-year-old is bidding to match Andre Agassi's record of six titles at the event and earn a record 28th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown.
Djokovic and Belgium's Goffin traded service breaks in the seventh and eighth games of the match before taking a marathon opening set into a tie-break.
Djokovic clinched it 7-5 after his opponent, reaching high for a lob, hit a backhand volley into the net.
The second set went with serve until the seventh game when No 15 seed Goffin hit a forehand long before netting a backhand to be broken and trail 3-4.
Djokovic then comfortably served out to book his place in Sunday's final, where he will face Kei Nishikori.
Sixth-seed Nishikori booked his place in the final after easing past Nick Kyrgios in straight sets.
Nishikori, who saved five match points in his quarter-final with Gael Monfils, put in a superb performance to see off the Australian, winning 6-3 7-5 to reach his second Masters 1000 final.
