Federer fends off Tiafoe, showdown with Del Potro looms

Roger Federer improved to 14-1 during what has been an incredible season when he thwarted a strong effort by Frances Tiafoe with a 7-6(2), 6-3 victory in round two of the Miami Open on Saturday afternoon. After lifting the Indian Wells trophy, Federer began his bid for a second straight 1000-point title by prevailing in one hour and 12 minutes.

Neither man dropped serve or faced a break point in the opening set. In fact, there was not even a single deuce before a tiebreaker had to decide it. Predictably, Federer raised his level–especially in the return game–when it mattered most and coasted through the ‘breaker seven points to two.

Tiafoe responded impressively by breaking right away to begin set two. Success, however, was short-lived for the 19-year-old American. Federer broke right back and was off to the races thereafter, winning six of the match’s last eight games.

“I’ve hit with Frances maybe twice before,” the 18-time Grand Slam champion responded when asked if anything surprised him about Tiafoe’s commendable performance. “Once at the French (Open) and once at the U.S. Open. There he surprised me. I’m not going to get the surprise really a second time around because I saw the power he had, the explosivity he had. You know, how he easily can generate pace.”

“I was very pleased actually how I played,” he added. “It was swirly winds against a player who has really good power and didn’t know the patterns against. I think I can be very happy with my first [match].”

Federer’s next match will come against Juan Martin Del Potro, cruised past Robin Haase 6-2, 6-4 in Saturday’s nightcap.

“I would love to play against him,” Federer said of Del Potro before the Argentine defeated Haase. “I’m happy for him with his comeback, winning at Davis Cup. I should have played him here last year but I was sick. That was a pity.

“It’s better to play him his time around when we’re both better. He was also just on the comeback last year. We’ve had some epic matches against each other: semis at the French (in 2009); Olympic semis (in 2012); finals at the U.S. Open (2009). You name it–we’ve had some really good ones. I’m sure the crowd would love to see it.”

They will. Game on.

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