Miami Tennis Tournament 2012: Watch Live Stream Online; Nadal Vs. Murray, Djokovic Vs. Monaco, Preview, Prediction
When and Where: The men's semifinals of the Sony Ericsson Open get underway from Miami at 3 p.m. ET. A live stream is available via ESPN3. Live streaming coverage will also be accessible through the tournament website with a subscription to TennisTV.com.
Just as in Indian Wells, the men's semifinals in Miami features three of the top-four players in the world. While in Indian Wells Andy Murray was the man to miss out, this time around Roger Federer sits out the festivities.
Murray kicks off the enthralling day of tennis at the Sony Ericsson Open by taking on world No. 2, Rafael Nadal. Both players having come through challenging quarter-finals to take their place in the last four.
Murray came from a set down to beat ninth seed Janko Tipsarevic, while Nadal played out an exiting three-set contest with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Nadal has the clear edge in the previous meetings between the two, but Murray will take heart from a couple of memorable victories. The Scot came out on top on his way to his first grand-slam final at Flushing Meadows in 2008 and did the same in the semi-final of the 2010 Australian Open.
The other kast-four matchup, taking place later in the day, sees Novak Djokovic go up against surprise package Juan Monaco.
The Argentinian gave himself the ideal birthday present yesterday when he took out American Mardy Fish to reach only his second Masters 1000 semi-final. But the now-28 year old is likely to find things a lot tougher against the world No. 1 on Friday.
Djokovic has won all four of the pair's matches and is an overwhelming favorite to make the final.
Prediction: Facing Nadal is another test for the new Andy Murray, with Ivan Lendl now in his corner. The 24-year-old needs to impose his game on Nadal and keep his emotions firmly in check throughout to have a chance.
Both players have something to prove after Nadal's timid loss to Federer in Indian Wells and Murray still looking to show that there is a top four at the top of the men's game, rather than a top three.
If Murray can reproduce his form from Australia, with Nadal admitting to be still struggling with a knee injury and coming off a draining match with Tsonga, he has everything going for him to make the final.
Murray in three sets.
Moncao is a solid competitor from the baseline but there is nothing to suggest he will be able to seriously threaten Djokovic. The Serbian has not reached the highs of last season, and this year's Australian Open, in Indian Wells or Miami, but there is nothing in Monaco's game to worry even an 80 percent-firing Djokovic.
Djokovic in straight sets.
UPDATE 2.45 p.m: Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from his semi-final with Andy Murray citing a knee injury. Murray progresses to the final.
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