The Miami Masters suffered another high profile early exit as Rafael Nadal was forced to withdraw from his second round match with Damir Dzumhur. Dzumhur had been leading 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 with a double break.
It was the first time since the 2010 Australian Open that Nadal retired from a match, though there have been times when Nadal would finish a match in intense discomfort. Matches including his loss to Stan Wawrinka in the 2014 final at the Australian Open, and a match against Mardy Fish at the ATP World Tour Finals are examples where Nadal saw through matches to their conclusion despite clearly being ailed by something. But not today in Miami as the former World No.1 called it a day when down a double break in the deciding set in the hot and humid conditions in Southern Florida. Nadal said that he felt “dizzy” when asked for a reason behind his retirement
Nadal joins Roger Federer, who withdraw with a stomach virus, and Stan Wawrinka, shocked by Andrey Kuznetsov earlier today, as early seeded casualties of the draw. Nadal was the not the only retirement in today’s play as Thomaz Bellucci was forced to retire against Mikhail Kukushkin at 7-5, 3-6. Kukushkin will now face Dzumhur for an unlikely place in the third round. Aljaz Bedene also joined Nadal as he retired with Roberto Bautista-Agut leading 7-5, 2-2 in their second round meeting. Bautista-Agut faces the winner of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Santiago Giraldo.
There were no problems for twenty-fourth seed Nick Kyrgios, who dismissed Marcos Baghdatis 6-2, 6-1, winning in fifty-eight minutes.
A seed who surprisingly did go out was thirteenth seed John Isner, as the 6’10 American was shocked by his 5’9 and one hundred-and-thirty-second ranked compatriot Tim Smyczek 6-2, 2-6, 7-6. Isner uncharacteristically hit nine double-faults, including one on match point, and Smyczek progresses to the third round of a Masters event for the first time. Smyczek will face Nick Kyrgios in the third round.
