Once-invincible Roger Federer was reduced to a rare bout of racket-bashing on Friday as he was toppled in the semi-finals of the Miami ATP Masters 1000 by Serbian Novak Djokovic
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Novak Djokovic celebrates a point against Roger Federer in the semis on Friday. Djokovic won 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 |
Once-invincible Roger Federer was reduced to a rare bout of racket-bashing on Friday as he was toppled in the semi-finals of the Miami ATP Masters 1000 by Serbian Novak Djokovic.
World No 3 Djokovic,u00a0 defied the blustery conditions to beat the world number two 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in an hour and 46 minutes. The Serbian, who won here in 2007, will face World No 4 Andy Murray of Britain in Sunday's final.
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Andy Murray celebrates beating Juan Martin del Potro in the semis on Friday. Murray won 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 |
Murray became the first British finalist at the event with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 win over Argentine Juan Martin del Potro. Del Potro had shocked World No 1 Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals.
"Novak played bad at the beginning, and I finished worse than him," said Federer, who lost seven straight games bridging the second and third sets. That span included four breaks of his serve, after he had surrendered his serve just once in the tournament and contributed to a rare glimpse of temper from the Swiss, who broke a racquet after yet another forehand miss in the third game of the final set.
"I was just frustrated," Federer said.
Djokovic said he tried to exploit Federer's difficulties. "I tried to change pace play fast and then play a bit slower. I didn't give him any consistency," he said.
Novak Djokovic v Andy Murray, Miami Masters final is LIVE onu00a0Star Sports at 22:30
