In the past, a match between world No. 1 Rafael Nadal and world No. 3 Roger Federer stood for the toughest matches between two players in the current ATP. Friday night, that wasn’t the case: Nadal beat Federer with ease, 6-3, 6-2, in the semifinals of the Sony Ericsson Open.
2011 Sony Ericsson Open Results: Rafael Nadal In Finals Against Novak Djokovic, Victoria Azarenka Tops Maria Sharapova
Nadal didn’t lose serve in the semifinal match. He took the break point opportunity on four of five chances, and beat his longtime nemesis despite expending more energy to get to the semifinals: Federer came off a six-minute match after his opponent pulled from the tournament with an injury, while Nadal’s last match went three sets.
Nadal will meet world No. 3 Novak Djokovic in the finals in Miami. Djokovic is on a 25-match win streak, defeating American Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-1 in his semifinal match.
“I don’t feel invincible,” Djokovic said. “What I feel is big confidence. What I feel is that I’m playing best tennis of my life.”
In the WTA, Victoria Azarenka upset Belgian Kim Clijsters to get to the finals. Then in the finals, Azarenka beat Russian Maria Sharapova. It is her second Sony Ericsson title.
Eighth-seeded Azarenka won her match 6-1, 6-4.
Sharapova made 43 unforced errors in the match, but her appearance in the finals moved her back into the WTA Top 10. Azarenka moved to No. 6 in the world with her win.
“I changed my mentality a bit,” Azarenka said. “I’m enjoying myself so much on the court that there’s no room for frustration. People want to see me emotional — they like it — but this is how I am right now. I just don’t care if I lose. I’m just there to do the best I can.
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