The draw for the Miami Masters has been announced, and easily the most tantilising encounter is the potential meeting between Roger Federer and Juan Martin Del Potro in the second round.
Both are coming back from injury, with Del Potro playing just his third event since wrist sugery, whilst for Federer, it will be his first since suffering a torn meniscus shortly after the Australian Open. Before this match can become a reality though, Del Potro must negotiate a first-round match against countryman Guido Pella.
Federer and Del Potro have met twenty times, with Federer leading the head-to-head 15-5. Del Potro won their most high-profile match in the 2009 US Open final. Federer also defeated Del Potro in the longest three set match in tennis history at the 2013 Olympics in London. Del Potro has also won three of the last five, though Federer has won the last two. Their last meeting came three years ago at the ATP World Tour Finals, with Federer winning in three sets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r9fe6FZV70
- Highlights of Federer and Del Potro’s last meeting the O2 in London.
Novak Djokovic will start against Kyle Edmund or Jiri Vesely, and could face Dominic Thiem in the fourth round. Tomas Berdych is his potential quarter-final opponent, though the Czech will likely have to defeat Frenchman Richard Gasquet before looking to Djokovic. Gasquet may have to defeat compatriot Benoit Paire before facing Berdych.
Rafael Nadal has Milos Raonic, John Isner, and Nick Kyrgios for potential company before Stan Wawrinka in the seeded quarter-final. Andy Murray could face Grigor Dimitrov before perhaps facing Kei Nishikori in the bottom half quarter-finals.
Interesting first round ties include veteran Mikhail Youzhny against the unpredictable Ernests Gulbis. Donald Young faces Andreas Seppi, and there will be a teenager battle as wildcard American Michael Mmoh will face Alexander Zverev. There is more than three hundred places between Mmoh and Zverev, but there are high hopes for the American.
The most notable absentees are Kevin Anderson, who has a long-term injury, and Bernard Tomic. Brian Baker joins Del Potro in taking part with a protected ranking. Wildcard recipients are Michael Mmoh, Roberto Carballes Baena, Andrey Rublev, Nicolas Jarry, and Elias Ymer.
Quarter-final draw should the tournament progress according to seeding:
Novak Djokovic vs Tomas Berdych
Roger Federer vs David Ferrer
Rafael Nadal vs Stan Wawrinka
Kei Nishikori vs Andy Murray
