Rafael Nadal in Sony Ericsson Open

Tournament organizer’s could not have charted Wednesday’s Men’s Quarterfinal outcomes any better. The lower draw will now feature a semifinal pairing between two of the tour’s big names and biggest guns when American Andy Roddick challenges Spain’s Rafael Nadal on Friday. The fans have been pouring through turnstiles at record rates and Friday’s match will not have an empty seat.

Roddick staked his spot with a dominating win over Nicolas Almagro, 6-3, 6-3. The American arrives at the semis without having lost a set thus far in Miami. Roddick was the 2004 Champion in Miami, where he retains a heavy following.

Roddick faced two break points against the Spaniard, but he managed to hold and converted three breaks of his own. The six seed is on a definite hot streak, reaching the finals at Indian Wells last week and now squared away against the fleet Nadal in the semis. Roddick leads the tour in wins this season with a hefty 20 triumphs. He is seeking his fourth final appearance in the six tourneys he has entered this season. Not bad, for a comeback player.

Meanwhile his next opponent, the fourth-seeded Nadal, is on a run of his own. The former number one breezed through an erratic Joe Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday. Nadal’s 2010 won-lost record now stands at 9-3.

Nadal appears back at the performance level that helped him accrue 36 tour titles at 23 years of age. He is taking the return on the rise and powering with force. Yet, the Spaniard is enduring an eleven-month recess from claiming a top prize.

More than 13,000 fans attended the match and Nadal noted that the crowd inspired his play. In post match interviews, he commented about playing Roddick, “When you play Andy, it is always a big challenge. His serve, and he’s a very good competitor. He’s a winner. Gonna’ be a very tough match. No? I think I have to play my best tennis to win.”

The fans feel the same way. When it comes to play on national turf, Roddick is especially effective and the Miami stars will be out, rooting for the homegrown winner on Friday.

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