Roger Federer almost didn’t make the trip to Florida. Still recovering from a disappointing loss in the final of the Indian Wells Masters, he wasn’t quite sure of the value of a stint at the Miami Open. After all, he unceremoniously crashed out in the second round of the tournament last year. After careful consideration, though, he decided to give it a go. No doubt, he factored in the fact that it was slated to be held at the Hard Rock Stadium for the first time. Key Biscayne had been its home since 1987, and the site of his one-and-done appearance following a first-round bye.
Considering how Federer ended the Miami Open with the trophy in his hands, he couldn’t have been happier with his choice to compete. “It would have been easy to say ‘Last year just didn’t work out. Let me not come back,’” he disclosed following his emphatic victory in the final. “I’m glad I changed my mind.” Indeed. Notwithstanding his supposed candidacy for the rocking chair, he and his 37-year-old body held up quite well. Only once was he challenged en route to his podium finish; he went three sets after losing the first in his opener against World Number 46 Radu Albot because, he argued, “I didn’t have a plan.”
True, Federer had outside help. Most crucially, top seed Novak Djokovic failed to move past the fourth round, paving the way for him from the four spot. Still, he clearly learned from his close call. Kevin Anderson claimed only four games in the quarterfinals. Dennis Shapovalov was barely better in the semis, taking six. And in the final, John Isner proved decidedly overmatched, managing to prevail in just five; he was dominant throughout, winning every single point on his first serve and losing a mere three on his second. In short, he was a steamroller en route to his record 101st ATP Tour title and second in a month.
Given Federer’s sharpness of late, it’s fair to contend that he’s a threat to win anywhere he plays and regardless of the strength of the field. Needless to say, it helps that he’s in prime physical shape. “This is a good phase, a good stretch for me right now,” he noted. “I really feel super healthy. That’s why I have been able to play every day for the last four weeks. That’s something that maybe hasn’t always been the case for the last few years.” And so confident has he become that he’s poised to include a clay-court schedule in his itinerary for the first time in three years. Which, in a nutshell shows that his continued run of success isn’t a question of if, but how.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.
