Three-time Miami Open champion Roger Federer had to dig deep to defeat Moldova’s Radu Albot 4-6 7-5 6-3 after 2 hours and 10 minutes in a hard-fought second round match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Radu Albot, who won his maiden ATP title in Delray Beach last February and arrived in Miami with a career high of world number 46, came very close to pull off the upset, but Federer fought hard to achieve his first come-back from a set down since Miami 2012.
Albot saved six of the eight break points he faced, including four in his first service game. Federer hit 14 aces and fended off three of the four break points he faced.
Albot earned an immediate break in the opening game, when Federer netted a forehand. Albot saved four break points in the second game to back up his break and held on his next service games. Albot hit three consecutive winners at 15 in the tenth game to clinch the first set 6-4 after 35 minutes.
Both players held their serve in the first six games of the second set. Federer saved a break point in the seventh game and earned a break point chance in the eighth game, but Albot fended it off. As the second set looked to be nearing a tie-break Federer finally clinched his first break in the 12th game with a backhand volley winner to close out the second set 7-5.
In the third set Albot earned a break point at 3-3 when Federer made a double fault. The 20-time Grand Slam champion saved it with three consecutive service winners. The Swiss legend earned his only break of the third set, when Albot sent a forehand long. Federer held serve at 15 with a service winner to secure his spot in the third round. Federer avoided his second consecutive second round defeat in Miami after losing to Thanasi Kokkinakis last year.
Federer will take on Filip Krajnovic, who beat Stan Wawrinka preventing the second all-Swiss third round match this month.
“I definitely think that Radu played a great match. It was really tough and I struggled early on. I am very relieved and happy to make it through. It was a great atmosphere”, said Federer.
