Miami Masters: My confidence is high, says Federer

Swiss through to fourth round after defeating De Bakker.

MIAMI: Roger Federer said he feels confident after his comfortable victory over Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker, as he eased into the fourth round of the ATP and WTA Miami Masters on Sunday. The fifth-ranked Federer defeated De Bakkar 6-3, 6-3 in just over an hour.

“I’m feeling really good with my game,” said Federer, who next faces French ninth seed Richard Gasquet.

“My confidence is high and I’m moving well on the court. I’m excited about how I’ve been playing.”



Federer said he will need to gather information on Gasquet, whom he last played in November, at the season-ending event in London.

“We’ve played many times and I’m not sure how he’s playing right now. I have to find out a little bit.”

Federer, 32, broke for victory in the final game, with De Bakker saving a pair of match points but also double-faulting at a crucial moment. He secured his 21st win of the season when a backhand from the Dutchman floated long.

These are not easy conditions: Murray

Defending champion Andy Murray relayed his thoughts on the difficult playing conditions in Miami after cruised past practice partner Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-1, producing a solid performance in the heat and humidity of Miami.

“I don’t know how hot it was, but when we came over at like 9:30 it was already 23 Celsius and extremely humid,” said Murray. “They are not easy conditions.”

Murray polished his record to 9-0 over Lopez in only 73 minutes. The Scotsman, who does much of his off-season training in Miami, improved to 21-6 in the city.

“It’s not always that easy to feel comfortable against him [Lopez] because there is a not load of rhythm with the way he plays.

“But I moved on the court well, returned well. It was obviously a more comfortable score line than the other day.”

Murray now faces French 11th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who outlasted Marcos Baghdatis 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-5.

It was a pretty tough match: Li

Chinese world number two Li Na felt relieved after winning a tough encounter against American Madison Keys, which lasted one hour 41 minutes.

“It was a pretty tough match,” said Li. “She played well, big serve, big forehand, especially when she was 3-1 down and then come back 5-3 up and served for the first set.”

The reigning Australian Open champion dispatched the American 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2014.

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