ROGER FEDERER AND KYRGIOS BATTLE THROUGH THREE-SETTERS TO SET UP SEMIFINAL SHOWDOWN IN MIAMI

Written by: Staff on 31st March 2017

ROGER FEDERER AND KYRGIOS BATTLE THROUGH THREE-SETTERS TO SET UP SEMIFINAL SHOWDOWN IN MIAMI

epa05876333 Nick Kyrgios of Australia in action against David Goffin of Belgium during a fourth round match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 28 March 2017. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER |

Federer and Kyrgios battle through three-setters to set up semifinal showdown in Miami

By Ricky Dimon

The Indian Wells quarterfinal that wasn’t is now happening.

Nick Kyrgios withdrew due to illness prior to a date with Roger Federer in the California desert, but they will face each other in the Miami Open semifinals on Friday night. Both players needed three sets in their respective quarterfinal clashes on Thursday, but they managed to get the job done and make Friday’s highly anticipated contest become a reality.

Surprisingly, it was Federer who came especially close to bowing out in the last eight. Tomas Berdych led the former world No. 1 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).

Kyrgios blew three match points of his own in a thrilling second set against Alexander Zverev, but he bounced back to prevail 6-4, 6-7(9), 6-3 after two hours and 33 minutes.

Alexander Zverev of Germany in action against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during a quarterfinal round match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 30 March 2017. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

“It’s a lot of fun,” the 21-year-old 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 on Friday, because Federer is simply on fire this season. The 35-year-old Swiss is 17-1 with titles at the Australian Open and Indian Wells Masters. He has advanced this fortnight with wins over Frances Tiafoe, Juan Martin Del Potro, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Berdych.

“Obviously he’s the greatest player of all time,” Kyrgios commented. “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.”

Roger Federer of Switzerland in action against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during their quarterfinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 30 March 2017 EPA/RHONA WISE

Kyrgios is through to the final four with defeats of Damir Dzumhur, Ivo Karlovic, David Goffin, and Zverev. The Aussie is 14-3 this year–including 7-0 in his last seven matches–and is into his third semifinal.

“They like the big stage,” Federer answered when asked about Kyrgios and Zverev before Thursday’s second quarterfinal. “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 world’s very best. He is 1-0 against Federer, 2-0 against Novak Djokovic, and 1-1 against Rafael Nadal.

The only previous Kyrgios-Federer encounter came two years ago on the clay courts of Madrid, where the youngster pulled off a 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 7-6(12) upset after saving two match points and squandering five of his own in the final-set tiebreaker.