Britain's Andy Murray will face world
number one Novak Djokovic in the final of the Miami Open on Sunday.
Third seed Murray beat Czech eighth
seed Tomas Berdych 6-4 6-4 to reach the final for a fourth time.
The
27-year-old Scot, who reached 500
career wins this week, won
the title in 2009 and 2013.
Defending
champion Djokovic overcame USA's John Isner 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 to set up a meeting
with Murray, whom he beat in
Indian Wells last
week.
Murray's
convincing victory, in which he broke Berdych's serve four times, took his
career record against him to 6-6.
"I
did most things well; there's not a lot I could complain about," said
Murray.
"My
second serve was much better in the second set. I served well on the big points
and got a lot of free points behind my serve.
"I've
played well this week, much better than I did at Indian Wells."
The
match was a repeat of the Australian Open
clash in January,which Murray won in four tense sets as he went
up against Berdych and former coach Dani Vallverdu.
There was another familiar face in
the Berdych box in Miami after fitness coach Jez Green recently began working
with the Czech, having left Murray's team along with Vallverdu last November.
In
contrast to Melbourne, Murray made the sharper start on Saturday, breaking the
Berdych serve either side of dropping his own.
Berdych
looked unsettled, complaining about the balls and a line call as Murray saw out
the set by making an impressive 77% of first serves.
A
confident Murray broke to love early in the second set, but two double faults
gave the advantage straight back.
Both
men were stepping in and attacking returns at every opportunity, and Murray's
strength in that area proved the difference when he broke Berdych for a fourth
time.
He
almost clinched victory with a fifth break and had to recover from 0-30 to
serve it out.
Although
the first set against Isner went to a tie-break, Djokovic never faced a break
point as he won in an hour and a half.
"I
played a terrific match," said Djokovic, who has won the Miami title four
times.
"The
opening set was pretty close. His resistance wilted a bit in the second set.
"Andy
has been playing so well this year. He lives here and spends a lot of time
practising on these courts, so he's familiar with the conditions."
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