Federer rolls past Nadal to win title
KEY BISCAYNE — It’s as if Roger Federer hibernated for six months and when he emerged, like any Swissman worth his salt, has been able to turn back the clock a dozen years when he dominated the sport.
On a sun-splashed and humid Sunday afternoon, Federer continued his dazzling 2017 run by dissecting his longtime rival Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-4 to win the Miami Open for the third time in front of a record 14,766 who witnessed this dream final.
Federer, 35 going on 25, admitted fatigue after surviving two grueling matches in the quarterfinals and semis against Tomas Berdych and Nick Kyrgios, which went the distance and included four dramatic tiebreakers.
“It was close. On the big points, maybe I was a little bit better,’’ said the fourthseeded Federer, who will move from No. 6 to 4 in the world after winning his third tournament of the year, 91st of his career title as well as a $1.175 million pay day.
“Why? I have no explanation. It was more a fight mode I was in, trying to stay afloat, physically, emotionally. It’s been a draining week.
“I told my coach [Ivan Ljubicic] when we were warming up if I just played the Miami finals, no Indian Wells, no Australian Open, I’d be very happy right now. I told myself, ‘Play without pressure, do it one more time and be brave on the big points.’ I was able to do that.’’
While some would add an asterisk to Federer’s 26th Masters 1000 title because of the elbow-related absences of No. 2 Novak Djokovic, who had won this event five of the past six years, and No. 1 Andy Murray, a two-time winner here, that would be grossly unfair.
Federer is 19-1, his best start since 2006 when he was 33-1, including a Miami title in which he defeated Ljubicic, and 7-0 vs. top 10 players. He has swept the difficult Sunshine Double Masters events in Indian Wells (Calif.) and Miami for the third time, to go with his record-extending 18th major at the Australian Open in January.
Federer held serve throughout and didn’t even face a break point in the second set which turned at 4-4, 30-30 with Nadal serving. A drone flying overhead seemed to annoy the fifthseeded Spaniard, but Federer’s let-cord dribbler was even more disturbing, which Nadal reached only to watch helplessly as the Swiss magic wand produced a perfect lob for break point.
Federer converted it when his service-return chip down the line forced a backhand error. The ole-ole chants ringed Stadium Court, but instead of targeting the South American they were punctuated with Roger’s name.
Federer served for the match and, after his only double-fault, slugged a backhand line scraper to regain control. A sharply angled inside-out forehand winner — one of 30 to Nadal’s 18 — set up match point, which he earned on a twisting 116-mph serve that Nadal sailed long to end the 95-minute lesson.
Federer jumped and smashed the ball into the seats before pumping his arms overhead in jubilation.
“It’s disappointing that every time in my career I have stood here I get the smaller trophy,” said Nadal, 30, who finished runner-up in Miami for the fifth time and failed to win his 29th Masters title.