Federer, Stephens hopeful about change

DAVIE — Roger Federer, the world’s No. 1-ranked player, said Thursday he’s uncertain about the Miami Open moving to Hard Rock Stadium next year from its long-standing home at Crandon Park on Key Biscayne.

“Right now it doesn’t feel great to move away from Key Biscayne, to be honest,” Federer said at his pre-tournament media session.

“But they must have their reasons, and as players you have to respect those. We’re not the ones who call the shots.”

Sloane Stephens, the reigning U.S. Open champion and Fort Lauderdale resident, seems to think the good move could be good for her, however.

“I’ve been playing tennis here since I was 12, and I’m 25 now, so that’s a long time I’ve been coming down to Key Biscayne,” she said. “It will definitely be missed, but I’m not too upset because the Hard Rock is closer to my house in Fort Lauderdale. So I’m not complaining.”

Federer, the 36-year old three-time Miami Open winner, said he has a soft spot for Miami and Key Biscayne partly due to familiarity.

“I don’t know the other venue at all,” he said. “I know this tournament only, like all the other players, at this venue. I’ve been coming here forever, ever since juniors. It’s definitely going to be very different when it moves.”

Federer, who lost to Juan Martin del Potro in the final at Indian Wells last week, breaking his 17-0 record to start the season, seems willing to give Hard Rock Stadium a chance, however.

“You’ve got to give it a few years to really be able to tell,” he said.

Azarenka wins

Victoria Azarenka, playing on a wildcard exemption, defeated 14th-seeded Madison Keys when Keys was forced to stop during the second set due to a leg injury. Azarenka, a three-time Miami Open champion, led at the time 7-6 (7-5), 2-0.

Keys, who had a secondround exit last week at Indian Wells, had an apparent issue with her left leg/thigh, which was wrapped as she exited the court.

Halep advances

Simona Halep, the women’s No. 1 seed and world’s top-ranked player, survived a scare Thursday from Oceane Dodin of France to record a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory in a second-round match. Halep, the 26-year-old Romanian, said the win showed how much she’s progressed in three-set matches.

“Before, and maybe possibly in previous years, I couldn’t win the match in the third set so I’m really happy that I changed this…I feel stronger so when I go to the third set I don’t panic,” Halep said. “I’m relaxed and I’m just fighting until the end and I’m sure that I have big chance to win the match, so I just go for it.”

Stephens wins

Stephens, the 13th seed in the Miami Open and world’s 12th-ranked player, defeated Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 6-3, in her match. Stephens appeared relaxed and free-swinging as she quickly dispatched Tomljanovic.

“I just tried to stay really positive and focus on executing my game,” Stephens said.