Scouting Report: Federer Makes His Return In Miami

Miami Open presented by Itau – The 32^nd edition of the Miami Open presented by Itau, gets underway on Wednesday. The 96-player draw features every member of the Top 10 (first time since 2012) and 18 of the Top 20 players in the Emirates ATP Rankings. The second of nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments of the season takes place at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park with three former winners in the field: reigning champ/five-time titleholder Novak Djokovic (2007, ’11-12, ’14-15), two-time champion Andy Murray (2009, ‘13) and two-time winner Roger Federer (2005-06).

The Reigning Champ – World No. 1 Djokovic is making his 11^th straight Miami Open appearance. The five-time Miami winner owns a 36-5 career record, winning titles in four of the past five years. During that stretch he has won 24 of 25 matches, losing only to Tommy Haas in 4R in 2013. He also was runner-up in 2009. The 28-year-old Serb has won a record-tying 27 career ATP Masters 1000 titles (w/Nadal). After winning his third title of the year in Indian Wells, Djokovic has reached 10 consecutive ATP Masters 1000 finals (DNP ’15 Madrid) going back to 2014 Paris-Bercy. He’s won eight of the 10, compiling a 50-2 record in that span. In the past 20 tournaments played since the beginning of 2015, he is a sizzling 104-7 with 14 titles in 18 finals. Djokovic is attempting to equal Andre Agassi’s record of six Miami Open titles. Djokovic is also trying to join Agassi as the only three-peat winners in tournament history. Agassi won his last three titles from 2001-03.

Roger Returns – World No. 3 and 2005-06 Miami winner Roger Federer makes his return to the ATP World Tour after undergoing knee surgery on 3 February. Prior to his injury, Federer reached the final in Brisbane (l. to Raonic) and the semi-finals at the Australian Open (l. to Djokovic) on Jan. 28. The 34-year-old Swiss superstar has a 44-13 record in Miami and he’s making his 16^th appearance. In his last visit two years ago, he reached the quarter-finals (l. to Nishikori). He made his tournament debut in 1999 (l. to Carlsen in 1R) and his first win came over Justin Gimelstob in 2000.

Home Tournament – No. 2 seed Andy Murray has the comforts of staying at his Miami home during the tournament. The 28-year-old Scottish native has a 27-8 record in Miami, reaching the final in three of the past four years. He won the title in 2012 and was runner-up in ’12 and last year (l. to Djokovic both times). He also won the title in ’09. This is the first time Murray comes into Miami ranked No. 2. After his 3R loss to Federico Delbonis in Indian Wells, Murray was looking forward to his Miami return. “I actually haven’t been back since the tournament last year, which is the longest I haven’t been there for about nine or 10 years maybe, since I started using that as a training block for myself. So, yeah, it will be nice to get to Miami and see my family. I’m not necessarily concerned about how I’m playing. I do think I will play better tennis in Miami because I played some good stuff in the Davis Cup.”

Rafa Looks For First Title – World No. 5 Rafael Nadal is making his 12^th tournament appearance (35-10 record, W/O in ‘12). He is a four-time runner-up (2005, ’08, ’10, ’14) and this is the only tournament he’s not won with the most attempts. He also reached the SF in 2010 and 2012 and QF in 2007 and 2009.

Indian Wells, Miami Title Sweep – Since 1991, seven players have won the first two ATP Masters 1000 events of the season (10 times) in Indian Wells and Miami. Djokovic is the only player to accomplish the feat three times (2011, ’14-15). Federer won both titles in 2005-06. Seven players have won both titles in the same year:

Big Four Domination – In 49 of the past 53 ATP Masters 1000 tournaments (since ’10 Monte-Carlo), one of the “Big Four”, Djokovic, Murray, Federer and Nadal, has lifted the trophy. During that stretch, Djokovic has won 22 titles, Nadal 12, Federer 8 and Murray 7. The last non-Big Four winner in Miami was Andy Roddick in 2010. The only exceptions came at ’10 Paris-Bercy (Soderling), ‘12 Paris-Bercy (Ferrer) and in 2014 in Monte-Carlo (Wawrinka) and Toronto (Tsonga). The foursome are also among the Top 6 in ATP Masters 1000 titles:

T1) Djokovic 27

T1) Nadal 27

3) Federer 24

4) Agassi 17

T5) Murray 11 

T5) Sampras 11

Note: In past 28 ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, at least one member of Big Four has reached the final. Last time without a Big Four in final: ’12 Paris-Bercy: Ferrer d. Janowicz.

Next Generation – There are seven Next Generation players in the main draw and four are playing in the qualifying draw. Here’s a look at the talented 21 & under group:

Note: There are four players in the qualifying draw: Taylor Fritz (18, No. 81), Jared Donaldson (19, No. 152), Yoshihito Nishioka (20, No. 124), Noah Rubin (20, No. 194).

Wild Cards – The five main draw wild cards are from five different countries: Roberto Carbelles Baena (Spain), Nicolas Jarry (Chile), Michael Mmoh (U.S.), Andrey Rublev (Russia) and Elias Ymer (Sweden). Rublev, who reached the 2R last year in his debut, is the only player of the group to have already appeared in the Miami main draw. Mmoh, who is 18 years, 2 months, is the youngest player and one of six teenagers in the main draw. He is playing in his second career ATP World Tour tournament.

InfoSys ATP World Tour Wins Leaders – Djokovic and No. 14 Dominic Thiem, who reached the quarter-finals in Miami last year, are co-leaders in match wins on the ATP World Tour this season (both with 22). Here are the match wins leaders:

Milestone Watch – Feliciano Lopez is two wins away from reaching 100 career ATP Masters 1000 match wins (98-110) while John Isner is four match wins away from reaching 300 in his career (296-182).

Delpo Comeback Continues – Juan Martin del Potro is playing in his third tournament on the ATP World Tour since coming back from a left wrist injury last year. This is the 27-year-old Argentine’s eighth appearance in Miami (13-7 record). His best result is the semi-finals in 2009 when he lost to eventual champion Andy Murray. Last year he lost to Vasek Pospisil in the 1R in his final match of the season. He underwent left wrist surgery on Jan. 20 and on June 18. He returned to action last month in Delray Beach where he advanced to the semi-finals (l. to eventual champ Querrey). In Indian Wells, he reached the 2R (d. Smyczek, l. to Berdych). He comes in ranked No. 366.

Baker is Back – Brian Baker is making his first tournament appearance since 2004 when he came in as an 18-year-old wild card (l. to Saulnier in 1R). The 30-year-old Nashville, Tenn. native has been plagued by several injuries over the years. He has an injury protected ranking of No. 56. In his only previous tournament this season at the Australian Open, he lost in the 1R to Simone Bolelli in four tie-breaks.

No. 1 Doubles Ranking at Stake – Jamie Murray is closing in on No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings. Murray came one match win short of overtaking current No. 1 Marcelo Melo in Indian Wells but lost in the quarter-finals. Melo has a 175-point lead over Murray while No. 3 Horia Tecau and No. 4 Jean-Julien Rojer are also within reach. Melo must reach the quarter-finals in order to have a chance to remain No. 1. Melo has 360 points to defend from last year while Murray has 90. Rojer and Tecau have 180 points to defend. They must win the title to have a chance to take over No. 1.

Outstanding Doubles Field – Eight of the Top 10 teams in the Emirates ATP Doubles Team Rankings are entered in the draw, led by Australian Open champions Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares. The reigning champions are four-time winners (2007-08, ’14-15) Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan. The top seeds are last year’s No. 1 duo Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau. Here is a look at the teams in the Top 10 who are entered:

1) Jamie Murray & Bruno Soares

2) Daniel Nestor & Radek Stepanek

3) Pierre-Hugues Herbert & Nicolas Mahut

4) Juan Sebastian Cabal & Robert Farah

5) Feliciano Lopez & Marc Lopez

6) Vasek Pospisil & Jack Sock

7) Treat Huey & Max Mirnyi

9) Philipp Petzschner & Alexander Peya

Former Champions in Draw – The only team playing together who are former champions in Miami are reigning two-time champions (four overall) Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan (2007-08, ’14-15). There are four other players who have won the title playing with different partners:

— Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi & Jean-Julien Rojer (2013)

— Max Mirnyi (2003, ‘05-06, ’09)

— Daniel Nestor (2002)

Other active players to win Miami title (not direct entry into draw):

— Leander Paes (2010-11-12)

— Radek Stepanek (2012)

— Mahesh Bhupathi (2011)

— Lukas Dlouhy (2010)

— Roger Federer (2003)

Bryans Eye Fifth Title – Reigning two-time doubles champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan look to become the first team to win three straight Miami titles since Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde from 1995-97. Leander Paes won three straight titles with as many partners from 2010-12. The Bryans are off to a 7-5 start and their past three losses have come after holding match points. Their best result of the season was a runner-up in Delray Beach last month (l. to Marach-F. Martin). The Bryans have won a record 109 titles together, their last coming in Montreal last August. They have won Miami titles in 2007-08, ’14-15.

ICYMI

Novak Djokovic won his record fifth BNP Paribas Open title in Indian Wells. Read

Frenchmen Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert knocked off the defending champions to win the Indian Wells men’s doubles title. Read

Rankings Movers

Milos Raonic 12 (+2)

David Goffin 15 (+3)

Leonardo Mayer 41 (+5)

Alexander Zverev 52 (+6) – Career high

Marcel Granollers 73 (+19)

Birthdays

22 March – Andreas Haider-Maurer (29)

23 March – Roberto Carballes Baena (23)

28 March – Stan Wawrinka (31)

29 March – Juan Monaco (32)

30 March – Joao Sousa (27)

31 March – Henri Laaksonen (24)

2 April – David Ferrer (34)