Djokovic and Murray on collision course in Miami

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, returns a shot from David Ferrer, of Spain, at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, April 2, 2015 in Key Biscayne.

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic are on another collision course in Miami after the Serbian beat David Ferrer to reach the semi-finals of the Miami Open.

With Murray set to face Tomas Berdych in his semi-final, the man who beat him to the Australian Open and then again in the semis of Indian Wells secured his own last-four spot with a 7-5 7-5 success.

Ferrer made a fast start taking the opening three matches as he dominated the world number one, but he was unable to keep the pace and was eventually hunted down on his 33rd birthday.

“I wasn’t feeling the ball that great at the beginning, but I knew that I’m going to have my chances if I stayed committed, if I kept on working,” Djokovic - looking an unbreakable force this season – said on the tournament’s official website.

“But I had to earn my points. I had to fight for everything that I got tonight on the court, because he wasn’t going to give it to me. I knew that coming onto the court. I knew that he’s a great competitor, that he grinds a lot, runs, and makes you play always an extra shot. That’s why he’s been top-10 player for so many years and he’s tough to beat.”

John Isner is up next for Djokovic after the American made it back-to-back wins over top-10 opponents.

Hot on the heels of Tuesday’s gruelling three-set triumph over Milos Raonic, the world number 24 had a more straight forward evening against fourth seed Kei Nishikori, winning 6-4 6-3.

Japanese star Nishikori paid tribute to his opponent afterwards, telling the ATP Tour website: “I think he play really well today.

“On the serve, I didn’t have any chance. Also, his forehand and backhand – he hit some winners from the back of the baseline. I couldn’t really stop him today. I don’t think I really played bad. Maybe I could do a little better with everything, but I think he played well today.”

Serena Williams and Carla Suarez Navarro will contest the women’s final after they both came through their semis on Thursday.

Fresh from her 700th career success on Wednesday, world number one Williams saw off Indian Wells champion Simona Halep 6-2 4-6 7-5.

Halep – who has won more games than anyone on tour this year – was broken twice in the first set but found a way to combat Williams in the second, attacking her forehand and drawing 37 errors on it but, after winning the second set, she lost her serve in what proved to be the final game of the decider.

“I hit more errors than I did in my last match, which I thought was impossible,” Williams told the tournament’s official website.

“I’m just not at my best level right now which is a little frustrating.”

Williams has held top spot in the rankings for 110 weeks, though, and knows what improvements she has to make.

“I feel like the match was on my racquet and I really had opportunities in the second. I just didn’t take them,” Williams added. “That is something I can’t do going into the grand slams coming up.”

Navarro made fairly light work of Andrea Petkovic, who was seeded three places higher in ninth, and eased to a 6-3 6-3 victory.

The Spaniard did not face a single break point in nine service games, dropping just 13 points, while Petkovic offered up 32 unforced errors to bow out with a whimper.

“I feel so happy. It’s so important for me,” Navarro told the WTA website. “I was practicing and working all year with my team for a moment like this.”