After Nishikori wasted a couple of break points which have given him a 3-1 lead, Nadal manufactured double break point. Nadal converted when Nishikori buried a backhand into the net. Nadal subsequently consolidated at love for 4-2.

Later on, Nishikori had double break points with Nadal serving at 4-3. Once more, this was to no avail. Nadal maintained the one break advantage to seal the first set.

In the second set, Nadal seized the break in the first game and guarded the advantage despite Nishikori’s formidable resistance. With triple match point, Nadal aced his rival to punctuate the set.

Nadal was particularly hampered by the serve in the final of BNP Paribas Open last week. Consequently, MiamiTennisNews.com inquired as to the changes he made to fix this problem “I tried to remember what I did when I served well. I slowed down the speed a little bit. . . Because I served 117 to 124, 25 miles almost every time. That’s enough speed if you put the right percentage inside and. . .the balls close to the lines. I think that worked well.”

Furthermore, Nadal said “Nishikori is a good returner. His returns are fast, deep and difficult. . . I have to improve a little bit on the second serve. The speed was [at times] 85, 88, 89, 90, 92. . . But in general, I am very happy with the match of tonight”.

Never one to take his opponent for granted. Despite a 6-2 mark versus Lopez, Nadal’s assessment of the upcoming match when asked by MiamiTennisNews.com was “[it’s] important for me to play my best tennis. . . He has a very good serve, volleys well and he’s an aggressive player. Very dangerous, but if I play very well, I have my chances”.

In addition, Nadal stated “I have to play aggressively with my forehand, try to move him and get to the net when I have the chance. The match will be similar [to the past ones in some ways]. Still, every match is [also] different and always difficult”.

Pablo Cuevas came into the tournament with a record under 500 at 6-7. With defending Andy Roddick across the net, Cuevas must have thought that his week at its end in the second round. To the contrary, Cuevas surprised Roddick 6-4, 7-6.

Cuevas caught a break in finding Roddick not at 100%. After Roddick erased a break point, he manufactured double break point the very next game. However, Cuevas found a way to turn him away.

Following, Cuevas on his fourth break point opportunity in the seventh game pocketed the break and made it stand the remainder of the set.

Roddick called for the trainer a few times in the second set. Despite having something wrong, Roddick soldiered on hoping to will his way to a triumph.

After Roddick failed to capitalize on a couple of break point opportunities, the second set went to a tiebreaker. With Roddick misfiring on forehands and moving sluggishly, Cuevas took command of the tiebreaker and collected his first victory over a top ten player.

Roddick was clearly bumped with the result. Moreover, he is frustrated to have this lingering health issue. Roddick cited “I had a little trouble breathing out there today.  I’ve had something for a little while, but I’m going to have it checked out when I get home.. . It’s dating back to Memphis off and on. That’s a little too long, I think”.

A few weeks ago, Roddick completed a course of antibiotics for a bronchial infection.

Irrespective of his own troubles, Roddick admitted that “[Cuevas] played well. He hit some good passing shots. He definitely had more game than I did today. . . He was hitting that kick serve pretty well on the ad side. I had a couple looks in the second set, and he hit a couple good ones”.

MiamiTennisNews.com inquired from Cuevas whether it was awkward to play Roddick after witnessing that he contending with a problem. Cuevas responded “ Yes, it can be difficult. But, I was just concentrating on what I could do and control. It was only towards the end of the match that I saw there was something wrong with him”.

With early departures at Indian Wells where he was a finalist in 2010 and the same in Miami, Roddick is at risk of falling out of the top ten.

In the third round, Cuevas collides with Gilles Simon. The Frenchman sailed through his match against Rainer Schuettler 6-4, 6-3.

Tenth seed Jurgen Melzer suffered an injury in his second round match. Details are still sketchy as to the nature of the ailment. Melzer went down to doubles partner Philipp Petzschner in straight sets.

In the next round, Petzschner will clash with Janko Tipsarevic. The latter toppled Marin Cilic 6-3, 7-6, recording his first victory over the Croat in six tries.

Argentine Carlos Berlocq also shocked 28th seed Ernests Gulbis. Waiting for Berlocq is seventh seed Tomas Berdych who got by Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6-1, 6-7, 6-0.

Fascinating is the word in a nutshell that perhaps best describes this past season. With 2009 looming, the time has come to reminisce as to why 2008 was such a quintessential year for the ATP.

The abundance of talent littering the tour foretold of a possible shake up as the year began, threatening Roger Federer’s supremacy. All dynasties have gone through a period of decline; perhaps, for Federer, 2008 will be viewed as such. In Australia, Federer faced two foes, mononucleosis and Serb Novak Djokovic. Unable to vanquish either, Roger succumbed in the semifinals. For Federer, this calendar had many ebbs and few flows with a spanking by Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the French final, a gut wrenching loss in the Wimbledon final in five sets, a much desired gold medal at the Olympics, but in doubles. Roger regained a bit of respect by capturing his fifth consecutive U.S. Open. But, for the first time since the dawning of the Federer era, Roger failed to grab a single masters’ shield. In 2008, not only did the Swiss have to get acclimated to the fact that Wimbledon was no longer his playpen, he also lost his grip on the number one ranking.

What a year for Nadal! Undoubtedly talent is an important part of success, yet hard work cannot be discounted. As the season started, the smart bet would have been on Djokovic yanking the top spot from Federer. Nevertheless, Roger’s clay nemesis, after more than two years of serving as best man, finally moved up to number one. After crushing defeats in the quarterfinals in Australia and finals at the Sony Ericsson, Nadal had a surreal clay run with one solitary loss. Moreover, Rafa won his fourth consecutive French Open and the crown jewel, his first Wimbledon trophy.  He was the first man in over twenty years with this dual combination. The ultimate feather in Rafa’s cap was getting Olympic singles gold. An arduous and lengthy schedule put the breaks to Nadal’s play with tendonitis stopping him from participating in the year-end tournament and the Davis cup finals. Regardless, Nadal could not have scripted this year any better.

In many respects, Djokovic had an up and down ride. After hoisting the Australian and Indian Wells trophies, the world number three had a reality check. Nadal unwilling to relinquish his hold on number two, schooled Djokovic when the two met in Rome and Paris. His confidence slightly dented, Novak was a non-factor mid-year with an early exit at Wimbledon. However, Djokovic finished strongly by winning the year-end tournament in Shanghai.

Several youths realized their promise in 2008.  The 19 year-old Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro leapt from 81 to 9 after surging in the second half of the season. The teenager had won four consecutive titles prior to running into Britain’s Andy Murray in the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open. Furthermore, Del Potro secured Argentina’s place in the Davis Cup final by crushing Russian Igor Andreev in the decisive rubber match. After severing his ties with coach Brad Gilbert, Murray flourished. The Brit reached his first major final at the U.S. Open, claimed two masters’ shields and ended the year ranked number 4. Croatian giant Marin Cilic showed he has skills and a brilliant future with his initial title at the Pen Pilot tournament. Another 19 year old, Japanese Kei Nishikori beat James Blake as a qualifier in the finals in Delray for his first ATP trophy and finished the year ranked in the top 70.

The French legion was a formidable force this year with two fresh names producing many special moments. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga blew away much higher ranked opponents, including compatriot Richard Gasquet, to book a spot in his first majors’ final in Australia. Although injury temporarily sidetracked him in May, Tsonga won a riveting match against Argentine David Nalbandian in Paris to take his first masters’ shield. Gilles Simon also excelled this year, beating Federer twice at the masters in Toronto and Shanghai and playing a superb semifinal against Nadal in Madrid to get to his first masters’ final. Tsonga and Simon capped their year ranked sixth and seventh, respectively. Showman Gael Monfils demonstrated that he might be prepared to punch in the court time needed to live up to his talent. Monfils reached the semifinals of the French Open, going from number 38 to 14.

For American tennis fans, there was little rejoicing in singles play, particularly at the majors, where no man advanced past the quarterfinals. At the French and Wimbledon, the U.S. was given an early return ticket. Although Andy Roddick and Blake continue in the top ten, their careers are tumbling backward. The former was stopped at the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open, while the same fate befell the latter at the Australian Open. Twenty-seven year-old veteran Mardy Fish had his best season with a finals appearance at Indian Wells after thumping Federer in the semifinals. Also, Fish had his best showing at a major with a quarterfinal finish at the U.S. Open. Sam Querrey, the 21-year-old Californian, came into his own. Querrey won his first tour title in Las Vegas and gave Nadal all he could handle at the U.S. Open.

In doubles, number one also changed hands as Mike and Bob Bryan’s reign ended. At the majors, Israeli Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram took the Australian, South Americans Pablo Cuevas and Luis Horna the French, Canadian Daniel Nestor and Serb Nenad Zimonjic Wimbledon, and the Bryan brothers the U.S Open. Nestor and Zimonjic dominated the year-end tournament to capture the trophy and number one ranking.

Spain, minus Nadal, comprehensively defeated Argentina to capture its third Davis Cup this decade. Swede Jonas Bjorkman bowed out after a spectacular doubles and an honorable singles career. Former French Open champion Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten, affectionately know as Guga, officially said his farewell. While the USA network bid its own goodbye to tennis after several years of broadcasting the U.S. Open. The gambling scandal that shadowed the tour was resolved, with Russian Nikolay Davydenko absolved of all charges. The ATP took on the task of restructuring its calendar which will be debuted this coming year.

For 2009, a host of issues will be cleared. Chief among them is whether Nadal will be able to overcome his pesky injuries. Otherwise, the Spaniard’s stint at number one will be limited. In his last two tournaments, Federer himself was bothered by a back problem. Moreover, Roger’s forehand was often shaky in 2008.  The question is whether both will recover, allowing Roger to regain his past glories. Djokovic, separated from Federer by only ten ranking points, and Murray are tired of being the men in waiting and want to ascend to the throne, will either one succeed? Undoubtedly, the wealth of youthful talent on the ATP will make it difficult for anyone to assert a stronghold on the top as Federer had done for 4 ½ years. I suspect that 2009 will prove as compelling a year as the one that just passed and it will be intriguing to see who will finish as top dog.