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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great match this poor miami crowd did not deserve.
Boo to the crowd, so disgusting! It tints the win for Fed in my book, very disgusting from the crowd.
I hope Rafa teach these crowd and Fed a lesson. I totally dislike such fawning over Fed, the commentators included.
Kygrios has himself to blame too, for literally throwing away the first set by giving back the break with a lousy service game.
Lucky,
Right on! This is an embarrassment to the sport. I am sick to death if crowds trying to fix the match for Fed! I am sick of the over the top her worship and preening from the commentators!
I have had it! I want Rafa to go out there and play like his life depends on it and gets this win!
This win is tainted for sure! I am speaking as someone who’s doesn’t even like Kyrgios, but even I can’t take this disgusting spectacle!
I am super happy Roger won but the crowd was total bullshit. Show respect for Nick the guy is fighting as hard as he can and playing magnificent tennis and seems to have turned the corner mentally but the crowd got him riled up and that’s understandable. Unbelievably atrocious behavior from the crowd. Honestly that racket smash was justified. Miami crowd is full of jerks. Just saw one dude yell at Kyrgios as he was walking out. Total bs bro the crowd behavior sort of tarnished how awesome the quality of the match was as a whole. Hold your head up high Nick. He’s so gonna be pissed about this in the press conference and makes sense that he would be. I believe he and Fed will be the two biggest favorites at Wimbledon if they keep this level up. Really hope Nick recovers. Again I’m a Federer fan and very glad he won but this was unfortunate. People have to forgive Kyrgios at some point.
You may be happy that your guy win, but I am sickened by that vile display! How would you feel if things were reversed and it was Fed who was cheated of a win because of an unruly mob of a crowd?
Sorry, but your words ring hollow to me. Fed got the win and that’s all that matters! Not the way he got it!
I was just trying to say that even though I’m a fed fan I get how bullshit this was. Kyrgios is one of my favorites players as well so this was especially unfortunate to watch.
Disgraceful crowds!Unfortunately this situations will keep happen everytime Roger play…Nole will ride this situation successfully like he did in USO 15 but nick,he still inexperienced and need to learn a lot how to handle this awful situation..
MA,
I rarely lose it over a tennis match! But this was too much for me! I have a bad taste in my mouth from watching this debacle! The Fed pandering and hero worship has become toxic!
Nny…Yeah!me too!Only rafa got this reaction from me before but to see nick lose like that makes me hurt and feel for him…hopefully he will learn smartly how to handle this situations as he aging to be a matured man in the future…I’m very proud to see how my half countryman fought tooth and nail and showed that he is a very very talented young player and got a tool to be a great player one day[if straightened his head that is!]…
Also I don’t think the crowd will be so crazy like this and against Rafa in the final because Rafa is a legend who most love and respect but Kyrgios has made some bad mistakes and because of that he was gonna be up against it from the start.
Miami crowd has always been awful. No offense to anyone on here from Miami…
Miami crowd would never boo Rafa. They love him there!
Nah, the Fed supporters among the Miami crowd will boo Rafa, they’re just that disgusting. I never hear any Rafa supporting crowd booing Fed, that’s the diference.
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These players, simply don’t have the guts to finish Fed off when they have the upper hand! Berdych is one, Kygrios is another. Playing against Fed, when you’re up a break, you have to up your own service game to hold serve, just can’t take things easy.
Rafa will be another one I’m afraid. The way he’s playing so far, won’t cut it against an inspired Fed and the disgusting Fed backing crowd.
Also, Rafa doesn’t give people a single thing to boo about. If you have the track record that Nick has, and you act like he does on the court, and you’re playing Roger Federer in Miami, you’re gonna get booed.
Nole was booed in USO final.
And crowd cheered first serve faults and unforced errors.
You could see after he beat Fed that he wasn’t celebrating as he should have because he was upset with the boorish zombie fedfawn crowd.
Nah, they booed him there at AO2014, when he took a long MTO. Those were mainly the Swiss fans, wanting Stan to win and stops Rafa from chasing Fed’s slam tally. They do anything to protect Fed’s legacy.
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That’s a hell of a lot of Swiss fans.
(Lucky and Augusta inspected all of the passports – a made up story)
I took a quick look at comments and saw my name in the comment posted AT 3:39 AM. That poster of it has generated yet anothed fantasy story! 🙄
It’s all yours My fan.
How else would you know their nationality?
Your own made up stories deserve another.
You are welcome My fan.
I badly wanted Rafa to get double career slam at AO..Fed stopped him
After 4 unsuccessful attempts, badly want Rafa to get Miami this time..again Fed to deny him?
I somehow cant see Rafa beating Fed as Fed barely making errors, timed ball very well today off both wings…Rafa may let the final chance of getting Miami get to him.
Hope he learns from AO and IW, mixes it up and not let Roger dictate
But maybe not! Yes, Fed is playing well, but not as razor sharp as he was in IW. If Rafa can continue to serve like he has been, there’s no reason he can’t beat him here!
I’m staying with my pick.
Any doubts with yours?
But Fed’s serve…
Federer was gassed after his QF but he managed to survive, so we’ll have another Roger v/s Rafa ….. This take on their mindsets would make an interesting read at this point http://www.138mph.com/decoding-the-big-three-murray-part-iii/
Give it up kavita.
No one wants to read your obvious federazzi propaganda article.
This was the worst overall crowd I’ve seen in my lifetime, though. They don’t give a shit about anything. You can just smell the booze through the t.v….
USO fedfawn crowd was every bit as bad against Nole in 2015.
Nole channeled it for a while but the constant lack of appreciation from the fedfawn crowd has been a factor in his eventual burnout.
Federer at almost 36 faster, more flexible, better reaction time and stamina than ever before.
How is he doing this.
#Rhetorical.
He’s un-everythingable, Hawks! Can’t you see? 😉
That half-volley backhand from Fed in the first point of the deciding TB was ridiculous…
Particularly given his age in his second strenuous and long three setter in two days lol.
2008 wimbledon match point saving redux
Miami has lot of spanish speaking people
Also Rafa is experienced enough to not let crowds get to him
Rafa needs to come to play.
Rafa would need to be at his 2013 level to beat this peak Fed.
I’m stickin with my prediction baby! Rafa for his maiden Miami title!
#CallMeCrazy
What have you got to lose?
The right to do celebratory hashtags like you do when you predict correctly! 🙂
Then you will likely forfeit that right.
#FedIn2
I am also a little bit disappointed to see Roger celebrated after the match without respect of nick’s misery…by his fans doing of all reason..
It was a super-tense, extremely close match, and he won… He gave Nick a nice pat on the chest and said something to him as he was walking out. It’s like he did cartwheels around the court and didn’t say a word to Nick. Shitty one-sided crowds is a part of almost every other sport. I don’t know why it has to be such a controversial thing in tennis.
Because it’s only for one guy all the fucking time.
Cheering opponent errors and calling out during serve and returns.
Disrespects the rest of the tour and the sport.
RT @TheBorisBecker: We should embrace @NickKyrgios for bringing #energy #quality#youthfulness #spirit into #tennis …#miamiopen2017
Except they disrespect the game instead with fedfawn blind bias.
Not tennis fans.
RT @BenRothenberg: One of the more hostile crowds I can remember in tennis recently, and turned against Nick Kyrgios. He’s riding the highs and lows. ?
Pathetic.
Shocker. What a trooper…
RT @SI_Tennis: A little bit of crowd noise during a tennis match? That doesn’t bother Roger Federer https://t.co/VbgNpJL73L https://t.co/YTC5gIZE7e