Federer, Wozniacki advance with victories in Miami Open
Roger Federer’s run at the Miami Open in Key Biscayne, Fla., was one point from ending. Down 6-4 in a third-set tiebreaker to Tomas Berdych, the situation was dire.
Yet even in that moment, Federer still felt some hope.
“I had belief I could turn it around, even then,” he said.
He was right, and his stellar start to 2017 continued. The fourth-seeded Federer fought off those two match points and beat the 10th-seeded Berdych 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (6) in the quarterfinals Thursday.
“I got incredibly lucky,” Federer said. “Could have gone either way. Felt like maybe this one I should have lost.”
Federer feels right at home at Key Biscayne, and so does Caroline Wozniacki — with good reason, since she sometimes practices at the facility. The 12th-seeded Wozniacki, a part-time South Florida resident, made the women’s final for the first time in 10 tries by topping second-seeded Karolina Pliskova 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.
“Having a place here, training here in the offseason, playing kind of on home advantage, it’s special to be in my first finals here,” Wozniacki said. “I’m extremely excited.”
Like Federer, Wozniacki rallied, albeit with far less drama. She won 12 of the last 14 games.
“I got a good start to the second set and that kind of got me fired up,” she said.
Wozniacki will play No. 10 Johanna Konta in Saturday’s championship match. Konta topped No. 11 Venus Williams 6-4, 7-5 in the second semifinal that ended just after midnight.
Federer improved to 17-1 this year and will face No. 12 Nick Kyrgios in the semifinals Friday. Kyrgios defeated 16thseeded Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-7 (9), 6-3.
Rafael Nadal and Fabio Fognini are the other men’s semifinalists, meaning there’s a chance for Federer-Nadal on Sunday for the men’s crown.
“I would love it,” Federer said.