By Chris Oddo | Friday March 24, 2017
Rafael Nadal eased into the third round with a straight-sets victory over Israel's Dudi Sela.
Photo Source: Al Bello/Getty
Four-time Miami Open runner-up Rafael Nadal cruised past Dudi Sela and into the third round of the on a blustery Friday, 6-3, 6-4.
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Nadal waltzed through the first set in his second lifetime meeting with Sela, never facing a break point, but in the second set a more aggressive Sela put some pressure on Nadal.
His seventh winner of the set gave Sela his first break point with Nadal serving at 2-3, but he played too passively in the rally and lost the point when Nadal struck a backhand winner. Sela earned a second break point in the same game but Nadal bossed him around with big forehand before dropping a backhand volley in front of him for a clean winner.
Nadal would break in the next game, rallying from 40-15 down, and never looked back. He served the match out a few moments later, converting his second match point with another backhand volley winner.
Nadal improves to 15-4 on the season and 36-11 lifetime at Miami.
The Spaniard finished with 17 winners against 22 unforced errors on a day that featured gusty winds and off and on drizzle in Miami. Sela finished with 11 winners and 17 unforced. Nadal saved both break points he faced and won 17 of 22 first-serve points.
He will face Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round.
Nishikori Flies Past Anderson
Kei Nishikori avenged a loss to South Africa’s Kevin Anderson from 2015 in Shanghai by defeating him 6-4, 6-3. Nishikori improves to 3-1 against Anderson and has now won 13 of his last 15 matches at Miami. He was the runner-up last year at Miami, and reached the semifinal in 2014.
Nishikori will face either No.25-seeded Fernando Verdasco or American Ernesto Escobedo in the third round.