Three party: Federer, Kyrgios win thrillers to set up Miami semifinal showdown

The Indian Wells quarterfinal that wasn’t is happening after all–just in Miami.

Nick Kyrgios was forced out by an illness prior to a date with Roger Federer in the California desert, but they will square off in the Miami Open semifinals on Friday night. Both players needed three sets in their respective quarterfinal contests on Thursday but managed to survive and make Friday’s highly anticipated showdown become a reality.

Surprisingly, it was Federer who came especially close to making an early exit. Tomas Berdych led the 18-time Grand Slam champion 6-4 in the final-set tiebreaker but could not get over the finish line and eventually succumbed 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(6). Berdych fought off one match point prior to the ‘breaker with an ace, but Federer saved two at 4-6 and 5-6 before the Czech eventually double-faulted at 6-7 to end it.

“(In) the ‘breaker obviously I got incredibly lucky,” Federer admitted. “Could have gone either way; felt like maybe this one I should have lost and maybe I should have won the one against him here in the night session years ago. But that’s how it goes. I’m happy I fought hard and somehow got it done today.”

Kyrgios squandered three match points of his own in a thrilling second set against Alexander Zverev, but he recovered to prevail in Thursday’s nightcap 6-4, 6-7(9), 6-3 after two hours and 33 minutes.

“It’s a lot of fun,” the Aussie said of his friendly rivalry with Zverev. “I was all in today. I respect his game; he’s beaten some of the best players in the world. I know that I can’t bring 75 percent or 80 percent of my game. I have to bring 100 percent. That’s what I did it today and I got over the line.

“As I said, we’re going to play a lot more times and he’s only going to get better. He’s 19 years old. So I’ve got a couple years on him. I (have) to get better, as well.”

Kyrgios may need to be even better in the semis, because Federer is simply on fire this season. The former world No. 1 is 17-1 with titles at the Australian Open and in Indian Wells. He has advanced in Miami with victories over Frances Tiafoe, Juan Martin Del Potro, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Berdych.

Thursday highlights:

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