By Justin Ross
In today’s Miami Open action, the second men’s singles semifinals matchup was determined. Roger Federer will take on Nick Kyrgios.
In doubles play, the championship match was finalized. It will be the American duo of Jack Sock and Nicholas Monroe taking on the No. 6 seeded team of Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo.
In the first match, Federer defeated world No. 14 Tomas Berdych 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(6).
After Federer dominated the first set, Berdych had an answer of his own. It looked like Federer would take the third set when he went up 6-5, but Berdych pushed to tiebreak. The crowd fell silent when the Swiss native went down 6-4 in the tiebreak. In thrilling fashion, he saved two set points in route to a comeback win.
The Swiss magician is now 18-6 in head-to-head contests, and Federer has won his last seven matches against the Czech native.
“I felt really good after the first set. I think then I maybe let Tomas back into the match as well just a bit. Also, he started to play bigger and better. I’m happy I fought hard and somehow got it done today. But the crowds were great,” Federer said.
In January, the two extended their rivalry to 14 straight years when Federer defeated the Czech native at the Australian Open. In 2010, Berdych beat Federer in their lone Miami encounter, but he has not defeated Federer since 2013.
Both Federer, No. 2, and Berdych, No. 6, are among the top 10 in all-time Miami match wins leaders.
Federer’s road to the semis includes wins over Frances Tiafoe, Juan Martin Del Potro and Roberto Bautista Agut. The Swiss star is off to a 17-1 start on the season, marking the fourth time he has done so. His best record before a second loss was in 2005 when he went 35-1.
“Kyrgios and Zverev are very exciting players, two of the most exciting players we have on tour now,” Federer told the crowd. “You all should tune in if you’re not in the stadium.”
And with that, Kyrgios defeated world No. 20 Alex Zverev 6-4, 6(9)-7, 6-3.
Kyrgios moves to 2-0 in head-to-head play with the German. The two squared off just days ago at Indian Wells.
“We’re great friends as well, so I’m always lucky to go out and play against a player like him. It could have gone either way,” Kyrgios said. “I love playing against Roger. He’s my favorite tennis player, so I’m going to enjoy that moment. We don’t really know how long he’s going to be around for, so I’m going to enjoy that moment.”
In the second set, Zverev pushed Kyrgios to tiebreak when the German saved three match points to force a third set. Along the way were multiple rallies of more than 20 shots and some beautiful in-between-the-legs hits.
With a win, the Australian reaches his second straight semis appearance in Miami. Kyrgios holds a 1-0 record in career play against Federer. The two were supposed to battle at Indian Wells, until a virus forced the Australian to retire from the competition.
At age 19, Zverev was the youngest player to reach the quarters in Miami since Novak Djokovic and Andry Murray, both of whom were 19 when they did so in 2007
In doubles action, Kubot and Melo defeated the North American duo of Daniel Nestor, Canada, and Brian Baker, U.S, 6-4, 6-3. Sock and Monroe advance with a 7-6(5), 6-3 win over the Bryan brothers.
On Friday, semis play in the singles draw will commence. Rafael Nadal will take on Fabio Fognini in a 1 p.m. showing, and Federer will square off with Kyrgios at 7 p.m.
Check out the full results here: https://www.miamiopen.com/live-scoring-2017
Check out the schedule of match play here: https://www.miamiopen.com/2017-draws-and-order-of-play
Tickets for the annual event start at $12 for youth and $15 for adults. A group rate of $7 is also available for 20 or more and grant access to all day session matches. Tickets are on sale now, for more information go to www.miamiopen.com or call the Miami Open ticket office at 305-442-3367.
The 2017 Miami Open is scheduled for March 20 – April 2 and will once again be the hottest ticket in town. With ticket packages starting at just $136 and individual sessions starting at $20 the Miami Open will be the place-to-be.
About the Miami Open presented by Itaú
The 2017 Miami Open will be played March 20-April 2 at the Crandon Tennis Center in Miami. The two-week combined event is owned and operated by IMG. The Miami Open is one of nine ATP Masters 1000 Series events on the ATP calendar, a Premier Mandatory event on the WTA calendar, and features the top men’s and women’s tennis players in the world. The tournament is widely regarded as the most glamorous on the ATP and WTA calendars because of its exotic Miami location, thriving nightlife, five-star hotels and restaurants, beautiful weather and beaches, and its celebrity appeal. For ticket information, call +1.305.442.3367 or visit www.miamiopen.com.
About Itaú
Itau is the largest Latin America privately owned bank, with approximately 95,000 employees and operations in 20 countries throughout the Americas, Asia and Europe. Itaú’s relationship with sport goes back to the 1970s, when Itaú first sponsored the Itaú Tennis Cup in Brazil in 1970. Itaú has been a sponsor of the Miami Open for the last six years, and also sponsors the Rio Open, the only combined ATP/WTA event in South America. Itaú also supports the Brazilian Women’s Tennis Circuit, only female professional tournament in South America, certified by the Brazilian Tennis Confederation (CBT) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF), as well as the Tennis Institute Training Center, responsible for the development of young, new talent.
About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion and media operating in more than 25 countries around the world. IMG’s businesses include Events Media, College, Golf, Tennis, Performance and IMG Academy, Fashion, Models, Clients, Licensing, Joint Ventures, and creative management agency Art + Commerce. In 2014, IMG was acquired by WME, the world’s leading entertainment and media agency. Together, the companies offer an unparalleled client roster; strategic partnerships with sponsors and brands; and marquee assets across sports, entertainment, events, music and fashion.
