Nishikori upsets Federer, Djokovic ousts Murray

MIAMI, Mar 27 (AFP): Novak Djokovic eliminated defending champ Andy Murray in straight sets and while fifth seed Roger Federer was sent crashing out of the ATP Tour's Miami Masters tournament in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Federer lost 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Japanese 20th seed Kei Nishikori who booked a semi-final showdown with former world number one Djokovic who defeated Murray 7-5, 6-3 on the hardcourts at Crandon Park.
"Kei did well to stay with me and not allow me to hold my serve," Federer said. "He was more consistent in the second and third set and those are the ones he won. At the end it's his credit."
Nishikori reached his second Masters semi and first in 2 ½ years by winning the two hour, nine minute night match.
"I thought I really played well, especially in the third," Nishikori said. "I was hitting both deep and striking well. Everything was going well.
"There was couple of tough moments, but I was fighting through and happy to win today."
Nishikori next faces Djokovic, who is going for back-to-back Masters titles after his triumph at Indian Wells.
They split their only two previous matches with Djokovic winning 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 at Roland Garros in 2010. They also played on the hardcourts three years ago in Switzerland where Nishikori won in three sets, 2-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0.