ROGER FEDERER has been told that the ATP Tour’s Next Gen stars stand a huge chance of winning the Miami Open after Novak Djokovic was beaten in the fourth round.
The Serbian was humbled to a 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 loss to Roberto Bautista Agut at the Hard Rock Stadium on Tuesday night.
The world No 1 has now been sent packing in successive Masters 1000 events in the early stages, having crashed out in the Indian Wells Masters third round to Philipp Kohlschreiber earlier this month.
The defeat also meant that Djokovic has lost twice to Bautista Agut this season having also lost to the Spaniard in Qatar in January.
It was the first time the Serbian had lost a match in Miami after winning the first set, having previously been 41-0 at the tournament from one set up.
Djokovic’s exit offers huge encouragement to the rest of the Miami Open draw, with Borna Coric and Felix Auger Aliassime among those looking to make a statement in south Florida.
Currently, Kevin Anderson, reigning champion John Isner and Bautista Agut join them in the quarter finals.
An all-Next Gen showdown between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Denis Shapovalov will see another up-and-coming prospect into the last eight, while Daniil Medvedev takes on Federer.
Speaking on Amazon Prime, the tennis analyst said: “We really have been waiting for the Next Gen and they are just all of a suddenly appearing.
“Don’t forget that Nadal is not here, he had to pull out due to his knee injury in Indian Wells.
“We’ve lost Novak Djokovic, the champion from California Dominic Thiem is out. There is room for these young guys to cause a major splash.”
And Sam Smith thinks there is an opportunity for one of the younger talents on the tour to claim a maiden Masters success.
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