KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP)—Novak Djokovic celebrated a pivotal point Friday by extending his arms and sticking out his chest like a sprinter crossing the finish line.
He’s almost there, one win from his fourth title in four tournaments this year.
Djokovic advanced to the final at the Sony Ericsson Open and stretched his winning streak to 25 consecutive matches by beating Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-1.
“He’s moving better than anyone right now, no doubt about it, on a hard court,” Fish said. “It’s his playground right now.”
The No. 2-ranked Djokovic’s opponent Sunday will be the winner of the match Friday night between No. 1 Rafael Nadal and No. 3 Roger Federer. Three-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova seeks her first Key Biscayne title Saturday against 2009 champion Victoria Azarenka.
Fish, who earned the No. 1 American ranking thanks to his run this week, hung with Djokovic for a while but went 0 for 6 on break points. Djokovic erased three with an ace and another with a service winner.
The Serb’s serve was once his biggest weakness, but he has yet to be broken in 40 service games in the tournament, erasing all 15 break points he has faced.
Djokovic stuck out his chest after he won a grueling baseline rally to break for a 4-2 lead. Fish’s best chance to get back in the match came three games later, but he failed to put away an easy forehand on break point and Djokovic served out the set.
It was a runaway from there.
“I didn’t win any of the big points,” Fish said. “None of them. I left a lot shots out there today. That’s what’s disappointing.”
Djokovic finished with only 14 unforced errors and 15 winners, the last coming on match point, and he celebrated by pounding his chest with his fist. He has lost only 18 games in five rounds.
Djokovic won two Davis Cup matches in December and is 23-0 in 2011, the best record to begin a year since Ivan Lendl started 25-0 in 1986. Djokovic has won three titles this year, including the Australian Open.
Fish’s consolation: He’ll climb ahead of fellow American Andy Roddick to a career-best 11th in next week’s rankings.