Roger Federer withdraws from Miami and loses 1000 points

The four-time Miami Open champion Roger Federer will not defend the title from March 24, withdrawing from the season's first Masters 1000 event. Roger hasn't played since the last year's Australian Open following knee issues and two surgeries in February and May. The Swiss had to embrace the most extended break of his career, returning to the practice court in October and making small steps towards a complete recovery. The 20-time Major champion will compete after almost 14 months at the next week's Doha event, testing his skills and deciding wheater he would enter the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai seven days later or not. After the desert swing, Roger will rest and skip the USA trip, handing the Miami Open crown to some of his rivals and losing those 1000 points he has been keeping for two years. The Miami Open moved from Crandon Park to Hard Rock Stadium in 2019, and Federer was the inaugural champion at the new venue.

In the title match, Roger took down the defending champion John Isner 6-1, 6-4 in 63 minutes after a one-sided affair, dominating on both serve and return against the rival who barely managed to finish the match after struggling with a left foot injury. Roger beat Daniil Medvedev, Kevin Anderson and Denis Shapovalov in commanding style to become the first player with 50 Masters 1000 finals.

Roger Federer has withdrawn from the Masters 1000 event in Miami.

It was also the 17th ATP final for Federer against the Americans and the 16th win, losing the only one in Miami 19 years ago against Andre Agassi on the same day! Isner reached the final without losing a set. Still, he had to play nine tie breaks in ten sets, winning them all but having nothing left in the tank for the title clash against the strongest possible rival, who broke him four times.

Roger finished the match with 17 winners and just seven unforced errors, controlling every segment and delivering five holds at love while dropping three points behind the initial shot! Federer broke Isner three times in the opener to wrap it up in under 25 minutes, reading rival's serve beautifully and building the momentum ahead of set number two. John fought well in the opening eight games and brought home four service games to stay in touch with Roger before that foot injury that bothered him a lot, barely moving in the last ten minutes. The medical timeout couldn't help the American, and Roger broke him in game ten to seal the deal and close a perfect Miami campaign with the title, the 11th at Masters 1000 level after turning 30!

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/301kfCX