Federer Continues Rebound Year in Miami
Roger Federer advanced to the next round of the 2014 Sony Open Tennis in Miami on Sunday, a 6-3, 6-3 victory over qualifier Thiemo de Bakker in just 63 minutes. With the win, Federer now has a 43-12 lifetime record in Miami, where he was crowned champion twice, winning back to back titles in 2005 and 2006. Federer holds a 21-3 match record so far this year.
Federer will next face the ninth-seeded Richard Gasquet, a 6-3, 6-4 winner over the number 17 seed, Kevin Anderson. In 13 career matches against Gasquet, Federer holds an 11-2 advantage to date.
"He's a good all around player. With the wind and the slower conditions, it works quite well for him,” said Federer of Gasquet. “I think it's going to be a tough match for me.”
Also advancing this weekend was Kei Nishikori, who moved on to the fourth round for a third consecutive year in Miami after defeating Grigor Dimitrov 7-6(1), 7-5. The win was Nishikori’s 150th career victory, moving his record to 15-4 to date in 2014. Nishikori will next face David Ferrer in the Round of 16 after Ferrer’s 6-3, 6-2 win over Andreas Seppi. Ferrer will be seeking his fourth consecutive quarterfinal berth at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event and hold a 3-2 lifetime record against Nishikori in five matches.
Two-time Miami champion and sixth seeded Andy Murray will take on France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the fourth round as well after Murray’s 6-4, 6-1 win over Feliciano Lopez, and Tsonga’s 4-6, 7-6(6), 7-5 comeback victory over Marcos Baghdatis.
"I'm just looking forward," said Murray. "It's nice that winning Wimbledon has been sort of accomplished, but I look forward now to try and do more in the big events."
Second seed and three-time former Miami champion Novak Djokovic advanced to the fourth round as well after his opponent Florian Mayer pulled out due to a groin injury. Djokovic will next face the number 16 seed, Tommy Robredo, a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Julien Benneteau 6-3, 6-4.
