The Miami Masters, one of tennis’s most prestigious events, turned into a farce when both men’s semi-finals ended in walkovers on Friday sending world number one Rafa Nadal and number two Novak Djokovic through to the final without hitting a ball.
Three-time champion Djokovic was gifted a spot in Sunday’s final when Japan’s Kei Nishikori withdrew with a groin injury.
A few hours later the seventh seeded Czech Tomas Berdych announced he was withdrawing due to gastroenteritis, handing Nadal a free pass.
Thousands of tennis fans had arrived at the Crandon Park complex expecting a day of high powered, fast paced action but instead were left with two women’s doubles matches.
“Sorry for Kei. Sorry for Tomas. Sorry for the tournament. Especially sorry for the fans,” said Nadal about the double walkover. “It’s very unlucky, very unusual for something that can h
