Miami - Roger Federer fought back from a set down to beat Radu Albot 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 on Saturday and reach the third round of the ATP and WTA Miami Open.
Moldova's Albot took hold of the match and posed plenty of trouble for the 20-time Grand Slam winning legend, who took some time to adjust to the new surroundings at the Hard Rock Stadium.
But the Swiss star's class and experience eventually shone through as he booked a round of 32 match with Serbian Filip Krajinovic who shoked three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).
"Radu played a great match, it was really tough and I struggled early on," admitted Federer, a three time Miami Open champion.
"I am very relieved and glad to make it through. It was a great atmosphere."
Moldovan Albot, 29, is enjoying a rich vein of form and arrived in Miami at a career high ranking.
He had never played the Swiss legend before but wasted little time in breaking Federer's serve in the very first game before holding for 2-0.
Federer missed a break point opportunity at 4-3, Albot then got a winner to heap the pressure back onto the 37-year-old before brilliantly sealing the first set.
The pro-Federer crowd were stunned, but the Swiss upped his game in the second, hitting 15 winners and five aces as well as saving a break point to keep Albot at bay and take an entertaining tussle into a third set.
Federer kept the pressure on and cracked the Moldovan who was serving at 3-4.
After a brilliant one handed backhand down the line from Federer clipped the line, Albot hit long once more and that gave Federer the break and opportunity to serve out for the match and move into the next round and a meeting with the 103rd-ranked Krajinovic.
No comments:
Post a Comment