Novak Djokovic reached the semifinals of the Miami Masters with a fighting 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) defeat of Spaniard David Ferrer.
The Serb world number 1 swept through the opening set but needed well over an hour in the second to secure victory.
Djokovic will line up against surprise semifinalist Juan Monaco, as the Argentine celebrated his 28th birthday with a defeat of American eighth seed Mardy Fish 6-1, 6-3. Top-seeded Djokovic finished with a flourish after failing to serve out a straight set victory against Ferrer.
The Spaniard broke trailing 4-5 after he won a 40-shot rally, in which a Djokovic shot clipped the top of the net as the Serb failed to hold and Ferrer climbed to five games apiece. As the set went to a tiebreaker, Djokovic stepped up a gear, racing away with the decider and finishing with a winner to the corner.
“It’s always tough against David. He’s an all-round great competitor on any surface. “All credit to him, he got back into the match in the second set. I didn’t want a third set, but I knew I’d have to overcome a guy who fights to the last point. After I failed to serve it out, I just wanted to get to the tiebreaker.”
Monaco was unchallenged by Fish, who has a poor season despite cracking a Top 10 ranking.
“I think this is the way to celebrate my birthday, playing like this,” said Monaco.
