Zverev powers into third Masters final in Miami

Alexander Zverev will vie to become the first man outside the Big Four group of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray to win three ATP Masters 1000 titles when he meets John Isner in the final of the Miami Open.

The German moved seamlessly into the Miami decider with a 7-6(4) 6-2 victory over Pablo Carreno-Busta in an hour and 28 minutes to book his first final for 2018.

Showing the form that took him to five titles – including his first two at Masters level in Rome and Montreal – and world No.3 in 2017, Zverev was near flawless in his first career meeting with the world No.19 Spaniard.

After securing a tight opening set in the tiebreak, the 20-year-old German secured the first break of serve to lead 2-1 in the second.

From there, Zverev was barely troubled, closing out the match with his 10^th ace. His 30 winners overall were 10 more than Busta amassed.

Waving hello to the @MiamiOpen final like ???? pic.twitter.com/sUZ4UywMu1

— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) March 31, 2018

The third Masters final marks an impressive turning point in Zverev’s 2018 season, following a first-round exit to world No.85 Joao Sousa at Indian Wells and an early loss to world No.81 Andreas Seppi in Rotterdam.

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Confidence clearly returning in South Florida, Zverev secured three-set wins over Daniil Medvedev and David Ferrer, before straight-sets wins against Nick Kyrgios and Borna Coric.

“I’m happy where I am right now, and hopefully it will be another great match here and then I can go to the clay court season,” he said.

The world No.5 German will start favourite against 17th-ranked Isner, who is winless in their three matches so far.

One of those was in the semifinals of Rome in 2017, which the then-teenage German went on to win for the biggest title of his career at the time.

The Miami final also marks a tantalising rematch of the third round at the same event last year, Zverev saving three match points to secure victory in three tiebreak sets.

While Zverev is eyeing a first Miami title, Isner hopes to become the first American to triumph at the event since Andy Roddick in 2010.