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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What a get from Fed.
I think nick’s standard not reach the level like his match against Zverev yesterday..or maybe it is neutralize by Rog’s superb skills..
Probably a combo of Fed and tiredness/nervousness/whatever. He’s still serving his way out of trouble!
Yeah Kevin,nick’s made a lot of unnecessary UE’s and his shot’s also less lethal..not very sharp..but then I already expect this…he must be drained after the epic match against Karlovic and Zverev…He’s lucky tho because his massive serves rescued him many times…but I give him credit for his great fighting spirit…
Nick REFUSING to go down without a fight. I love it.
Hmm…Rog didn’t apologize after almost hit nick’s face with his dangerous BH?
Here we go!! Jeez, will these two ever not get to a tiebreak haha?
Yes!!DTL!!Nick should do that more often!!
Yes!!!3rd sets!!C’mon,bring it on!!
I knew it!
I was right it would go to three! Way to go Nick! He played brave and it paid off!
Fed will win in the end, though! But Nick deserved this one set!
I don’t think Fed will have it in him to take this third set.
Well at least Kygrios didn’t lose heart and fought through. Well done for winning the second set TB. Hopefully he still has it to play a good third set.
Would not be surprised if this match goes exactly the same as their last one!
Nik is showing some grit in roughing it out with this crowd.
Uh oh! TV called in Nik! They said he’s been at 26 seconds and had a soft warning already.
Tight service game for Nik.
It’s amazing how well this guy plays when the moments get bigger on serve.
That’s always true about the big four; Kygrios is the exception here.
How the hell has Nick Kyrgios not even been to a Masters final or slam semi yet??
He’s been a little, well, a LOT, inconsistent. Likes big matches though. More than a little temperamental too.
Sorry, I should have said that was a rhetorical question. 🙂
That’s because there’re always the big four around; beating one is already tough enough, more so beating two or more of them.
Kyrgios is a champ at getting through deuce service games!
I don’t understand why nick so reluctant to make a DTL shots…he kept hitting to Rog’s BH….like Rafa!Lol!!
This thing is really going to a third set TB? Unreal!
Yeah, it’s like he wants to challenge Fed’s improved BH!
Good luck to Rafa beating either of these guys.
The crowd has gotten to Nik, unfortunately.
Fedfawn crowd is disgusting.
Yes, this is a disgrace!
They rattled Nik enough to get him to muff those last two points!
Fedfawn crowd will be seriously against Rafa on Sunday.
So disrespectful to the game tonight.
It is absolutely outrageous! Shsme on that crowd!
You could sense it coming. When Nik had it on his racket, the crowd was going to get on him.