Roger Federer and Nick Kyrgios will be going head-t0-head for the second time in their careers when they collide in the semifinals of the Miami Open on Friday night.
Kyrgios won their only previous encounter 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 7-6(12) on the clay courts of Madrid in 2015, where he saved two match points before converting his sixth opportunity in the final-set tiebreaker. They were supposed to face each other again at the Indian Wells Masters earlier this month, but the 21-year-old withdrew prior to a quarterfinal clash due to illness.
Nothing has slowed Kyrgios down in Miami, where has advanced to the final four with victories over Damir Dzumhur (6-4, 6-3), Ivo Karlovic (in a third-set tiebreaker), David Goffin (7-6(5), 6-3), and Alexander Zverev (6-4, 6-7(9), 6-3). The world No. 16 is now 14-3 this season–including 7-0 in his last seven matches–and is through to his third semifinal.
Of course, no one has been better than Federer in 2017. The 35-year-old Swiss boasts a 17-1 record with titles at the Australian Open and in Indian Wells, and he is back up to sixth in the rankings and could find himself at No. 4 following this fortnight. Federer has not been entirely dominant in Miami, but battled into the semis by defeating Frances Tiafoe, Juan Martin Del Potro, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Tomas Berdych. After needing a pair of tiebreakers to get past Bautista Agut in the fourth round, the 18-time major champion fought off two match points to beat Berdych 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(6) on Thursday night.
“Obviously he’s the greatest player of all time,” Kyrgios said of his upcoming opponent. “But the way that he takes time away from players–that’s his strength. He likes to play his pace of tennis. He likes to take away time and play aggressive. He obviously like to play really aggressive on return (and) likes to get through his service games very quick…. I know what’s going to be coming.”
“They like the big stage,” Federer responded when asked about Kyrgios and Zverev before Thursday’s second quarterfinal had taken place. “Both have a big serve. Both (have a) real nice backhand, and the belief–so that makes them just very tough to play in any given match.”
Kyrgios certainly has the belief even against the best players in the world. In addition to his 1-0 mark against Federer, the mercurial Aussie is 2-0 at Novak Djokovic’s expense and an even 1-1 against Rafael Nadal.
Moreover, Kyrgios thrives on the big stage–and the big stage is exactly what he has been given in Miami. He has already played three night matches; one on the Grandstand (vs. Dzumhur) before twice enjoying night-session treatment in the stadium (vs. Goffin and vs. Zverev). Federer, who displayed signs of mortality against Bautista Agut and Berdych), has played day matches throughout the entire tournament up to this point. The No. 4 seed’s relative struggles in his last two outings and the fact that he has not yet played in these exact conditions have to be considered factors heading into Friday.
Nick at night equals upset alert.
Pick: Kyrgios in 3
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Just finished watching the match; full day of playing sport, and no time to watch. A few comments.
1. The match of the tournament, and one of the best 3-set matches I have seen in a long time. Hard to recall a match where there was less between the two players, both playing at a very high level. I actually thought it got better as the match went on. I thought Roger’s ROS got better (and was the key, if there was one), but Nick’s got better as well. I love his aggression and his attitude. I also loved that he smashed his racquet on his way to shake hands. Showed how much he wanted it.
2. Yes, the crowd sucked, but that’s mostly about Nick. Every crowd is pro-Fed, but Kyrgios is tennis’ bad-boy, and the comment about Wawrinka’s GF especially set fans (and players) against him. Not too often that you have other guys on the tour talking about how a player needs someone to smash his mouth in (Ryan Harrison I think). However, I predict that once Kyrgios wins a slam (and it will be soon at this rate), fans will get behind him in a big way. He’s too good, too exciting, and plays in a way that’s too hard not to like. Incidentally, I think Rafa will have nearly half the crowd on Sunday. They love him in Miami.
3. Props to those who picked another Roger-Rafa final. I missed half of it (Nadal), and I wasn’t totally sold on Roger (I had either him or Nick in the final). Well done.
Nah more selective bias.
The fedfawn crowd were very disrespectful to Tomas in much the same way in the quarters when he was threatening to beat their false god.
RT Ben Rothenberg: “Just watched it back and it does look like Mirka might’ve been one of the spectators whistling jeeringly at Kyrgios’ mid-game racket change?”
https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/847978358906519552/photo/1
RT Daniel @danielNolefan: “This is outrageous, Stan was right about her, disgusting behaviour.”
RT Andrei Costin Ionesc @AndreiCostin: “She certainly is not famous for her sportsmanship.”
The Grandstand has tweeted the same thing (So it’s confirmed):
https://twitter.com/TennGrand/status/847973408298209280/photo/1
And we are to believe that Augusta would be polite at a match if it was Rafa’s opponent.
Pot and kettle. Nothing new.
It’s great that the poster AT 11:12 AM is of the opinion that Mrs. Mirka wasn’t polite!
Never said she was. Last night or in London.
Glad to see my opinion makes you happy.
You’re welcome My fan.
Yeah, I saw it and commented on it here…shame on her! She is such a disappointment!
Agreed, Nats!
I was rooting for Nick and I thought it is sad that the crowd was so hostile to him.
But I see nothing wrong with Mirka’s behaviour. She was spiritedly supporting her man!
This side of her first came to light when she called Wawa a crybaby ! Hilarious!
Haha. It was hilarious. She’s married to the guy and is entitled.
To be fair, fedfawns believe they are married to him too.
Lol!
Mary (AT 11:46 AM),
Mrs. Mirka’s husband should have been fined for her aggravated behaviour when ‘this side of her first came to light.’
Tend to agree with Hawekeye here. If anyone is entitled to be a biased fan, it should be the guy’s wife. I used to put Andy Murray’s mom in to that category (biased fan, not wife). I think Stan was more angry because he and Roger are supposed to be friends.
RT @carole_bouchard: Also one can’t wake up in 2017 about the RF/crowd situation when we had the 2015 US Open final mass hysteria. Djokovic still won that one.
? tell it to the fedfawns.
Great article on Kyrgios. Unfortunately he believes what Nole once did overestimating today’s fedfawn dominated fanatics.
“The crowd was obviously on his side and I have to win a little bit more to start getting them on my side,” said Kyrgios.
http://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/19050835/nick-kyrgios-winning-more-silence-crowd-boos-jeers