ROGER FEDERER AND RAFAEL NADAL BATTLE TO STRAIGHT-SET WINS FOR BERTHS IN MIAMI OPEN 10S 2017 QUARTERFINALS

Written by: Staff on 28th March 2017

ROGER FEDERER AND RAFAEL NADAL BATTLE TO STRAIGHT-SET WINS FOR BERTHS IN MIAMI OPEN 10S 2017 QUARTERFINALS

epa05875980 Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Nicolas Mahut of France during their fourth round match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 28 March 2017 EPA/RHONA WISE |

By Ricky Dimon

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal remained on a collision course for the Miami Open title match when they won their respective fourth-round matches on Tuesday afternoon. Neither player lost a set, but it also wasn’t easy. Federer held off Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6(5), 7-6(4) after Nadal scraped past Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 7-6(4).

Although Federer surprisingly gave back breaks in each of his two sets against Bautista Agut, he came up clutch in both tiebreakers.

Roger Federer of Switzerland in action against Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain during their fourth round match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 28 March 2017 EPA/RHONA WISE

“I felt good overall,” the reigning Australian Open and Indian Wells winner commented. “It was a different kind of match. It wasn’t the big-serving match where you’re only going to see so many looks (at break points). So when you miss chances, you always feel a bit frustrated sometimes. That’s where you [have] to keep a positive mindset and make the right plays.

“I thought Roberto did a good job of making shots, staying offensive when he could, (and) fending off a lot of good shots that I hit. I’m very happy and pleased that I got it done in straight sets.”

Nadal also sealed the deal in straights, beating Mahut in a match that featured a grand total of one break point. The sixth-ranked Spaniard converted it 4-4, 30-40 in the opening set before serving things out in routine fashion.

Dominance on serve continued throughout the second, with only one game going to deuce. Mahut survived that situation at 5-5 but the 35-year-old Frenchman dropped three service points in the ensuing tiebreaker. Nadal eventually capitalized on his second match point at 6-4 thanks to a forehand winner.

“I think (it) is a good start of the year for both of us,” the 14-time major champion said when asked about his start to the season along with Federer’s. “Obviously a little bit better for him.

“But at the same time, I am happy the way that I am playing–happy the way that I started the year after a tough second part of the year last year with injuries. So I think it’s positive for both of us that we can still be around here and be very competitive almost every week we’re playing.”