Roger Federer was forced to curtail his attempted comeback in Miami on Friday, as a stomach virus ensured that he was unable to take to the court for his highly anticipated clash with Juan Martin Del Potro.
“I am very sorry that I have to pull out of the Miami Open with a stomach virus, I feel bad for the tournament and the fans as I have rarely ever had to withdraw at such short notice. I have not felt great for a few days and unfortunately it got worse in the last 24 hours. I was really excited to have my comeback in Miami but I am in no condition to play. I tried to warm up this morning but it was clear that I could not compete“.
Federer had not played since the Australian Open semi-finals after suffering a torn meniscus just days after his defeat to Novak Djokovic. It is anticipated that the stomach virus is short term, and that Federer should be able to return to the ATP Tour during the European clay swing. He could play in Houston or Marrakech, but his first tournament after the Indian Wells-Miami Masters is normally the first clay Masters in Monte Carlo.
Juan Martin Del Potro was unable to take advantage of Federer’s withdrawal, as the Argentinian was beaten by his compatriot lucky loser Horacio Zeballos 6-4, 6-4. Del Potro hit eight aces and two double faults, but was broken once in each set, and could not create even a single break point against Zeballos.
Zeballos had been beaten in three sets by Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in the final round of qualifying, but will now face Fernando Verdasco for a place in the fourth round of Miami.
The withdrawal of Federer and the loss for Del Potro opens up the draw for eighth seed David Ferrer, who edged a tight first set with young American prodigy Taylor Fritz, before eventually running away with the second in a 7-6, 6-1 win. Both men broke once in the first set, but Ferrer tightened up his game on the second serve in the second set, and pulled away comfortably with a double break.
