“I’m trying but it’s not working, and that’s all”. “That’s all it is”.
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“I played a lot of good players in practice and in matches”.
I just had to play my game. Just it’s impossible at the moment. “That’s all.” While Djokovic is struggling, world number six Del Potro is headed in the opposite direction. The 21-year-old Australian found his bearings in the second set when he broke Federer to go up 3-1 and began dictating points with his huge forehand. The match was his first since he lost to Juan Martín del Potro on Sunday in the final of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., a match that also came down to a tiebreaker.
“He was just a bit better than me today, you know”. He was serving well.
“I can only look from far away and think, ‘I wonder how it was for him.’ Hard to imagine how – most important about having had surgeries, I guess, and being injured is the doubts you have”. Williams, who lives in South Florida and has always been a favorite with Key Biscayne fans, said they kept her going. Yet in Miami, Djokovic carries a potent reputation, and put himself in the frame for a strong run once he admitted to the media that he was, at last, playing pain free.
On losing his place at the top, Federer said: ‘I deserve it after this match. I know if I bring that level, I can beat a lot of good players. “I’m trying to figure things out, so I have time now”. “Just felt like I could be paying the price for opportunities missed”.
“I decided not to play in the clay season”, Federer said. I obviously wasn’t ready.
Although he had planned for the two hardcourt tournaments to be a precursor to a full clay-court season, he sounded unsure following the defeat. “But let’s see what happens”.
With six-time Miami Open victor Novak Djokovic also exiting early, the likes of second seed Maric Cilic, Grigor Dimitrov (3), and Indian Wells victor Juan Martin del Potro (5) will all fancy their chances over the week.
Tournament director James Blake responded that while the crowd was “loud and passionate”, Miami Open staff, WTA Tour officials and courtside security were unaware during the match of any threats made.
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Some 21 years after her Key Biscayne debut, wins at the Miami Open remain something to celebrate. Svitolina had beaten Osaka last month in Dubai, before the 20-year-old embarked on an eight-match win streak that included victories over Maria Sharapova, Karolina Pliskova, Simona Halep and, on Wednesday, Williams. He defeated No. 16 seed Thiago Monteiro of Brazil and No. 8 seed Taro Daniel (who defeated Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells) to make the main draw.
