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TENNIS-ATP-WTA-USA
Federer sweeps past Isner in Miami final for 101st title
MIAMI, April 1, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Roger Federer lifted the 101st title of
his remarkable career on Sunday in dominating style, beating ATP Miami Open
defending champion John Isner 6-1, 6-4.
Federer, who has skipped the whole clay court season for the past two
years, declared the triumph over the big-serving American in just 63 minutes
was an ideal performance from which to launch a French Open bid.
“I will have to take baby steps going back onto the clay, I have played so
little in the last few years so I don’t know what to expect but what this win
does is takes even more pressure off me,” Federer said.
“Already just how I’ve been playing and moving here makes me believe just
going on vacation now, a bit of a break, and then preparation, you physically
I should be fine, but again, we’ll see how the body is going to react.
“I am excited. It’s a good challenge,” added Federer of trying to dethrone
Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros when the second Grand Slam of the season begins
on May 26.
Federer has been in brilliant form in South Florida, recovering superbly
from losing the final in Indian Wells earlier this month to emphatically beat
Isner, who was badly struggling with a foot problem at the end of the title
match at Hard Rock Stadium.
Federer will not appear at the next Masters event in Monte Carlo but is
slated to play in Madrid at the beginning of May.
“Madrid will be ‘let’s see what happens’ and then obviously I want to be
ready for Paris and I hope all that hard work is going to pay off for the
grass and hard court season,” he said.
Against Isner, Federer seized control immediately as a break in the very
first game sapped Isner’s confidence and allowed Federer to aggressively gain
control of a match which he never looked like losing, especially after the
American’s foot problem worsened.
Isner was struggling badly and was heard telling the trainer during a
medical timeout that he feared he had broken his foot.
“Somewhere during the first set I started feeling pain on top of my foot
and it didn’t go away and it just got worse,” Isner said.
Isner’s spirit was crushed after he dropped the first set in only 23
minutes.
“It’s a terrible feeling, because you’re on an island out there. You have
no teammates to hide behind and going up against the greatest player ever,
you know, playing in this incredible atmosphere, and my foot’s killing me.
“I have never had a broken foot, but that’s what I would imagine it would
feel like.
“Not that I would have won the match but I could have made for a more
interesting match and one that was a little more fun.”
– ‘Appreciate these moments’ –
This was Federer’s 154th tour final and his 50th ATP Masters showpiece
appearance. He’s in the twilight of his stellar career but has no plans to
hang up his racket just yet.
“In terms of goals, it’s about trying to win titles and trying to manage
life so I stay injury-free,” the former world number one said.
“Some days you just don’t feel so well but this is a good phase, a good
stretch for me right now. 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.
“So you appreciate these moments.”
Isner’s booming serve failed to fire and there was to be no repeat of their
last meeting at the Paris Masters 2015 when Federer was defeated in a third
round encounter.
To give the Swiss eight break chances in the first set spoke volumes about
the sudden ineffectiveness of the Isner service game – he took only 50% of
points on his first serve during the opener.
With Isner hurting, Federer, who finished with a perfect 100% of points won
on his first serve, wasted no time in the second set wrapping up his 28th
Masters title.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0828 hrs