Both tennis legends, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal won their quarterfinal matches on Wednesday and Thursday, and are just one semifinal away from facing each other in Clash XXXVII.
Roger Federer’s win over Tomas Berdych was close, very close, and didn’t seem like it would happen. He looked a bit less confident than he did at the beginning of the tournament. He played ageless tennis in the earlier round against Juan Martin del Potro, but once he reached the fourth he had to get through two shaky tie breaks with Baptista Agut and he almost lost the third set to Berdych on Thursday, squeaking out the win 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(8).
The 35 year-old pulled a “Nadal” and dug deep to pull himself out again from behind, when he trailed Berdych 6-4 and his quest for the “Sunshine Slam” (back-to-back Indian Wells and Miami Open Masters 1000 titles) seemed all but over.
Probably sick of losing to the Swiss player the last seven times in a row (going back to 2014), the Czech seemed determined to turn things around and switched on the aggression in the second set, putting on a fight in the third tie break until the “FedExpress” displayed the kind of gut and skill he’s tapped into at this late stage of his career, dashing Berdych’s hopes in a captivating quarterfinal. Perhaps it was too much and with a double fault, Federer received the lucky gift of a spot into the semifinals.
"“I don’t feel like I deserved it that much, a double fault at that moment,” said Federer. It was clear that Berdych’s nerves got the better of him. “I guess he was playing on the edge. I got incredibly lucky. Could have gone either way.”"
You could read the grave loss on the 10th seed’s face as he walked off the court crestfallen. Although the crowd seems to be always rooting for the GOAT Federer, you had to feel for Berdych, with such a close chance and playing with so much grit and proficiency in that last tie break, until the decisive match point.
Next up for the fourth-seed Federer will be a much tougher match, and one I’m not sure he’ll get through to the finals. He faces 21-year-old sensation Nick Kyrgios, who has come into his own this year and displayed his best tennis in an exhilarating match in Thursday’s night session against 19-year-old Alexander Zverev.
The 12th seed used every trick in his arsenal to achieve the victory Thursday night over the younger player, including multiple “tweeners,” showmanship, power serving, and sportsmanship. The officials at the tournament were smart to save the match between the two young stars for the evening session, the best of the day.
The back-and-forth rallies were exciting throughout and the two battled it out to a three-setter, with perhaps Zverev showing less experience in the end, by running out of gas as the Australian pistol gunned through his opponent, clinching the win 6-4 6-7(9) 6-3. Watching the German save three match points in the second set tie break was especially thrilling. One can picture these two in 4-5 years to come exhibiting that kind of battle in a grand slam final—I believe theirs is a future captivating rivalry in the making. The fight and stamina displayed by Kyrgios showed that he will be a major thorn in Federer’s side for their semifinal Friday at Crandon Park.
Kyrgios is trying to be the first Australian to reach the Miami Open final and talked about facing the “Great One” Federer on Friday. “He’s playing incredible at the moment,” Kyrgios said. “He’s had a great year. He obviously looks very healthy and is moving very, very good. I’m not going to think about it too much at the moment. I’m going to serve big and play big. That’s my game style that I’ve had success with, so that’s what I’m going to bring.”
Federer is going for a third Miami Open Masters title, over a decade since the last one he achieved (2006). Rafael Nadal is trying to achieve his maiden one, after four tries as runner up. The Miami Masters is the longest tournament he’s played that he’s never won, 13 years.
Nadal faces Fognini, who, like Kyrgios, is also going for his first Masters 1000 title. If he makes it to the final, he would be the first from his country to do so at the Key Biscayne tourney.
Rafa beat the American Jack Sock with an easy win 6-2, 6-3 Wednesday. The American has been on a roll this year, getting as high as No. 17 in the ATP rankings and seeded 13 here. He seemed to hit back in the second set by opening it up with a break over Nadal and starting it out with a 2-0 score, displaying a monstrous forehand. But he was playing Nadal, and no one digs deep like the Spaniard and he came back to win five games in a row to clinch the win.
The fifth seed will be facing unseeded Fognini, who played with spirit and mastery to get to the semis, the first unseeded player in 10 years to make it thus far. With his wife Flavia Pennetta (retired 2015 U.S. Open champion) cheering him on in the stands. He beat the top seed, Nishikori, who was clearly not at his best.
Down 4-1 in the opening set, Nishikori managed to fight back and even things up a bit, ultimately losing the first set 6-4. Suffering from a knee injury he sustained just the day before, he wilted in the second, giving the Italian 29-year-old the match at 6-2.
"“At the moment, I’m just happy,” said a beaming Fognini at his on-court interview. “Of course this is a big, big tournament for me. I’m feeling really good on court and other times, so this is the best thing that I can have this week.”"
The world No. 40 talked about his ‘dream’ quest for a first Masters title. “I’m happy about my performance. Of course, the result is positive. It’s like a dream maybe. I’m just trying to be focused on my game and do my best.”
Nadal and Fognini are the first semifinal at stadium court on Friday, both anticipated to bring the A-game they’ve been displaying throughout the week.
"“He’s playing well,” Nadal said about the Italian Wednesday. “It will be a good test for me. I’m happy to be in the semifinals. I’ll have to play my best and play aggressive like I did today.”"
If the two veteran’s make it through their motivated and gifted challengers, we may be looking at another Federer-Nadal final, a rematch from Australia. The Swiss holds the recent record with a first three wins in a row (Indian Wells, Australia, Basel), all hard court victories but the world no. seven is perhaps playing a slightly better game in Miami and still rules their head-to-head overall.
A win here on Fed’s part would tip the scales in their hard court wins to 10-9 in his favor. To get there on Sunday, they just have to get through Fognini and Kyrgios on the way—far from easy—to give the tennis fans what they want, #fedal match XXXVII.