Kyrgios saves 2 match points in dramatic win over Federer

Top-seeded Roger Federer made an early exit from the Madrid Open on Wednesday after a narrow, second-round loss to Nick Kyrgios.

The 20-year-old Australian ended Federer's hopes of a fourth title at the Spanish tournament by rallying for a 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 7-6(12) victory.

Kyrgios saved two match points on his serve at 6/7 and 10/11 in the third set tie-break. Federer made Kyrgios sweat, saving five match points at 5/6, 7/8, 8/9, 9/10 and 11/12. At 12/13, Federer mis-timed a forehand wide.

Kyrgios is in form, having reached the final at the Estoril Open before losing to Richard Gasquet. The 2014 Wimbledon quarterfinalist also relinquished his status as the ATP's highest-ranked teenager by turning 20 last week.

Kyrgios broke serve in the first game, but Federer did not panic. With the young Australian serving for the set at 5-4, Kyrgios dropped to 0/40. Although Kyrgios saved two break points, Federer's depth of groundstroke reaped dividends to level the scoreline. The top seed went on to run through the tie-break to end a 42-minute set.

Federer maintained his momentum, breaking in the opening game and began to expose Kyrgios' strategy for returning serve. But Kyrgios responded to lead 3-2 and continued to play with greater aggression.

There were no break points in the deciding set. Kyrgios hit 22 aces to Federer's 16 and both players won 78 per cent of their first service points.

Federer said his problem was that ''I couldn't return his first serve,'' adding: ''Just a horrible performance on the return.

"As the match went on it got so bad that I just couldn't get into decent positions on the return, so it made it very difficult to get any sort of rhythm after that.

"But credit to him for serving well and keep doing what he was doing. But I'm very disappointed by that. That's what cost me the match, in my opinion."

Kyrgios said he had been excited at the prospect of playing his childhood hero.

''Last night it was a bit tough to get some sleep,'' he said. ''I've been playing well recently on the clay, so I knew I had a good chance to go out there and do well. I stuck to my game and served well and I got the win.

"I think he's the greatest of all time. I knew before the match that I would have to play one of the greatest matches I have ever played, I wasn't intimidated at all," the remarkably composed 20-year-old said courtside following his victory in two hours 37 minutes.

"It doesn't really feel real at the moment. It's a strange feeling. It's pretty exciting."

Three-time former Madrid champion was full of praise for Kyrgios, admitting, "He's got a wonderful serve and good potential, so I hope he keeps working hard and that he can compete for the best spots in tennis.

"It was a fast paced match in terms of we don't take much time between points. I expected it to be difficult match.

Federer and Kyrgios both trained together prior to last year’s Roland Garros.

"He likes the big stage," added Federer. "He's got nothing to lose, no fear, and he's got a great game. He can rely on his serve so much. It keeps him in the match regardless of he how he plays from the baseline."

Federer drops to 21-4 on the season, which includes three ATP World Tour titles at Brisbane (d. Raonic), Dubai (d. Djokovic) and Istanbul (d. Cuevas).

It was the first time that Federer had lost to a player aged 20 or under since the 2009 US Open final (l. to del Potro, 20 years, 11 months).

Date: 7th May 2015, Source: AP and ATP

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Federer, Nadal on Madrid semi-final collision course

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal could renew their rivalry in the semi-finals of the Mutua Madrid Open after Friday’s draw pitched them both in the top half of the 56-player field.

Federer is the top seed in Madrid, the fourth ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament of the season, but it will not be a straightforward path for the Swiss. After a first-round bye, the 33-year-old Federer, who is through to the final in Istanbul this weekend, could face rising Australian star Nick Kyrgios in the second round. Kyrgios is also enjoying success on the clay this week, through to his first ATP World Tour final in Estoril.

The third round could see Federer face Jeremy Chardy, whom he lost to on clay at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome last year, while 16th seed John Isner also features in that section and boasts a clay-court win over Federer in Davis Cup action three years ago.

Federer, who is chasing his 24th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown next week, is seeded to face No. 6 Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals. Berdych was present at Friday evening’s draw at the Caja Magica. The 29-year-old Czech finished runner-up at the Monte Carlo Country Club last month and lost to Federer in a tight three-set final in Madrid three years ago.

The third-seeded Nadal is looking to win the Madrid title for the third year in a row, after beating Stan Wawrinka in the 2013 final and Kei Nishikori (retired due to injury in 2014) last year. The Spaniard comes into Madrid eager for a return to top form after a shock third-round exit to Fabio Fognini in Barcelona last week.

The left-hander opens against either Steve Johnson or a qualifier and is projected to meet 15th seed Kevin Anderson in the third round. But before any potential meeting with Federer, Nadal is likely to have to play either eighth seed Wawrinka or 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov, who is competing in the Istanbul semi-finals this weekend. Also in that section is Fognini.

Andy Murray and last year’s finalist Kei Nishikori headline the bottom half of the draw.

Murray, seeded second, opens his campaign against either a qualifier or Philipp Kohlschreiber and could face 13th seed Gael Monfils in the third round. The Scot, who could play two singles matches in Munich on Saturday as he chases his first ATP World Tour clay-court title, is challenged in his quarter of the draw by fifth seed Milos Raonic and home favourite Feliciano Lopez.

Fourth seed Nishikori enters Madrid in a rich vein of form, having repeated as Barcelona champion last week. The Japanese star has a tricky opening match against either Ernests Gulbis or David Goffin and is projected to meet 14th seed Roberto Bautista Agut in the third round.

There is a strong Spanish contingent in the third quarter of the draw, with seventh seed David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo, Fernando Verdasco and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez all vying for a potential third-round clash with ninth seed Marin Cilic.

Main draw play begins on Sunday at the Caja Magica.

Date: 2nd May 2015, Source: ATP

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