Nadal storms into Miami semifinals

Rafael Nadal’s dreams of winning the Miami Open remain in tact after a straight-sets win over Jack Sock sent him to the semifinals.

The ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Florida is one title that has eluded Nadal during his career – with four final defeats – but this could be his year after an impressive 6-2 6-3 victory against American Sock.

Nadal made the final in 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2014 and that three-year sequence will continue if he can get past unseeded Italian Fabio Fognini in their semifinal.

There was little doubt the Spanish No.5 seed would get past Sock with his dangerous forehand helping him to two breaks of serve and the first set in 33 minutes.

The American 13th seed is having a breakout year on the ATP Tour, though, and showcased his own stunning forehand, with some monster hitting giving him a 2-0 lead in the second set.

However, Nadal fended off four break points to avoid going 3-0 down and that proved decisive as the Spaniard then reeled off five successive games on his way to clinching victory.

“That was the key of the second set, two-love (down), 15-40,” Nadal said in his courtside interview.

“With three-zero a player like Jack, you’ll probably be thinking third set.

“It was a double positive thing.

“I saved that game and got the break back (in the next game).

“The match was much closer than the result says.”

The Spaniard now plays Italian Fabio Fognini in the semifinals. Nadal boasts a 7-3 win-loss career record against the unseeded world No.40.

Rock solid Rafa.@RafaelNadal too good for Sock.#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/Md9mafv5Q5

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 30, 2017