Radu Albot came closer to defeating Roger Federer in their first career meeting. In the end, the Swiss won against the 29-year-old prevailing, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. After the match, as quoted by ATP, Albot said: “It was different, playing against a superstar. It’s different to play and to feel that everybody is cheering for him. It’s different to play with one of the best players of all-time, and to feel his shots and his capability to play against me, to feel it myself. Of course I went on the court absolutely willing and sure that I could win that match. But the experience is pretty interesting. You play all your life and all the tournaments to be here and to compete against the best. When you finally have a chance to play against the best, I think it’s a good achievement and something I finally accomplished in my career”. Albot definitely expected a tough match but he still managed to cope with Federer's aura and crowd support for the majority of the match. “I’ve never practiced with him, and there were a couple of shots that I didn’t expect, or another player would play differently. But I have to say he handles the ball very well. He can maneuver it like everywhere and create angles, create height, create sidespin. Now that I competed against him for more than two hours, I felt on my skin all he can do, in a way”. He was not impressed by Federer's personality: "There is nothing to process and to look at because on the other side is also a human. He has strengths and weaknesses and if you play the right way, you can win. So there’s nothing to be afraid of because if you’re afraid and you’re scared, that means you have no chance right away”.<doc-sep>Roger Federer is into the third round at Hard Rock Stadium where he will face Filip Krajinovic Roger Federer came from a set down to beat Radu Albot and reach the Miami Open third round but Dan Evans and Alexander Zverev were among the Saturday exits. The Swiss great, a three time champion of the event, including 2017 when he beat Rafael Nadal, need more that two hours to see off world No 45 Albot with a 4-6 7-5 6-3 victory that set up a date with Filip Krajinovic in the third round. The 37-year-old, beaten by Dominic Thiem in last week's Paribas Open final at Indian Wells, smashed 14 aces and broke Albot twice to advance but it was far from plain sailing for the 20-time Grand Slam champion. "I expected a player with a great attitude, which he showed," said Federer. "I have a lot of respect for those types of players who don't have the size, have to find a different way to win. He's a great, great player. I was impressed. Federer was stunned by Thanasi Kokkinakis in his opening match of the Miami Open last year and another early exit was beckoning when he dropped the first set on Saturday. However, he battled back to break Albot while leading 6-5 in the second with a backhand volley winner to square the match. Albot could not convert a break point in the deciding set when tied a 3-3, and Federer took command from there to wrap up a match that included 41 unforced errors from the legendary Swiss. British hopes now rest with Kyle Edmund after Evans suffered a 4-6 6-1 6-3 defeat to 20th seed Denis Shapovalov. Evans dropped just two games in a first-round win over Malek Jaziri having earned a place in a draw as a lucky loser and took the first set as the Canadian teenager struggled to find his range. Dan Evans suffered a battling three set defeat in Miami However, Shapovalov upped the ante in the second set, where Evans needed treatment on an ankle injury, before taking the decider and the match when double-faulted at match point down. Evans run is projected to take him up to 89th in the world rankings and he continues a strong start to the year, while British No 1 Edmund faces Milos Raonic on Sunday for a place in the last 16. There was another disappointing defeat for world No 3 Zverev who was beaten in three sets but 36-year-old David Ferrer who is set to retire at the Madrid Open in May. Alexander Zverev suffered another early exit as a disappointing 2019 continued with defeat to David Ferrer Zverev was beaten in the third round of Indian Wells last year, and continued a disappointing Grand Slam record with a fourth-round defeat in the year's opening major in Australia, and he suffered an early exit as the hands of an inspired Ferrer. The Spaniard, a wild card into the event at Hard Rock Stadium, recorded a stunning 2-6 7-5 6-3 win that sets up a meeting with Frances Tiafoe in the third round. "It's a special day because it's the last year of professional tennis for me. Winning these type of matches against a top 10 player like 'Sascha' is a gift," Ferrer told the crowd. "I'm very happy and I'm trying to enjoy every point and every moment." World No 7 Kevin Anderson is also through, starting his first tournament back after a two-month lay-off with an elbow injury with a 6-4 3-6 6-3 victory over rising Spaniard Jaume Munar. Eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Mackenzie McDonald 7-6 (7/4) 6-1 while 10th seed Karen Khachanov was beaten by Australian Jordan Thompson 6-2 6-3 while fellow Russian Daniil Medvedev, the 13th seed, knocked out France's Adrian Mannarino 6-2 6-1. We have the tennis season covered from all angles via our website skysports.com/tennis. On the move? Head to our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkySportsTennis to join in the conversation.<doc-sep>Roger Federer scraped through to the third round FREE for news on the biggest players and tournaments SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up forfor news on the biggest players and tournaments When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Albot had won his last eight matches in Miami, Florida and he showed no fear as he broke Federer in the opening game of the match and held on impressively to win the first set 6-4. With Albot continuing to play at a high level, the tension in the crowd on the Hard Rock Stadium was evident but Federer finally broke his opponent in the final game of the set and won it 7-5. The third set was evenly matched but a few too many errors from Albot opened the door for Federer and he broke late on, then served out the match to take his place in the third round where he will play Filip Krajinovic Relive the match below and join us again on Monday for Federer's next match... ROGER FEDERER VS RADU ALBOT AS IT HAPPENED THIRD SET *Federer 4-6 7-5 6-3 Albot Albot backhand into the net, 15-0. Federer nets a forehand 15-15. Federer ace, 30-15. Federer volley winner, 40-15. Albot forehand is wide. GAME. SET. MATCH. Federer on the brink but he survives. Just! Federer 4-6 7-5 5-3 Albot* Stunning from Federer as he drills a backhand down the line, 0-30. Two break points as Federer forces Albot into a tough shot. Federer goes wide on the first break point. But Albot goes long with a forehand and Federer breaks. He will now serve for the match. *Federer 4-6 7-5 4-3 Albot Brilliant from Albot as he passes Federer at the net. Federer goes long with a forehand, deuce. Federer wide serve forces an Albot error but the Moldovan hits back with a forehand winner down the line. Federer double fault. It's challenged, but it's out. Break point Albot. Ace Federer, his 12th of the match. And a 13th ace seals the game. His serve came to his aid in a big way there. Roger Federer vs Radu Albot LIVE: Roger Federer forced a third set Federer 4-6 7-5 3-3 Albot* Chance for Federer as his backhand flick catches out Albot, 15-30. But Federer nets yet another return. He's struggled all night. Federer screams out when after a backhand goes well long. And another game gets away from him. Great composure from Albot though. *Federer 4-6 7-5 3-2 Albot Strong serving from Federer as he holds to love again. If he can cut down on the errors, the match is on his racket. Federer 4-6 7-5 2-2 Albot* Impressive Albot backhand catches the line and a good wide serve then catches Federer out, 40-15. But Federer forces Albot back to deuce. Another poor Federer forehand goes wide but Albot nets with his own forehand. Neither player is at their best. Albot hangs with Federer, going toe-to-toe, and comes out on top. *Federer 4-6 7-5 2-1 Albot Love hold for Federer. A worrying stat for Federer is that he's made 33 unforced errors. It has been a really error-strewn display from the 20-time Grand Slam champion. Roger Federer vs Radu Albot LIVE: Albot won the first set 6-4 Federer 4-6 7-5 1-1 Albot* Federer goes on the attack with his forehand and is in full flight, 30-all. Albot backhand goes wide, deuce. Good tennis from Albot as he gets to the net well and puts away a volley. Federer nets a backhand and it's game Albot. Too many errors from Federer once again. *Federer 4-6 7-5 1-0 Albot Ideal start for Federer as he races to 40-15 and he finishes with an ace. SECOND SET Federer 4-6 7-5 Albot* Excellent volley winner from Federer to start the game but a gorgeous Albot backhand smash levels it up. Awful Federer forehand return, 40-30. But Albot goes long with a backhand, deuce. Set point Federer as an Albot backhand goes just long. Relief for Federer as he takes control of the rally, then finishes with a backhand volley and forces the match into a third set. *Federer 4-6 6-5 Albot Good aggressive play from Federer in this game. But Albot responds with further evidence of his quality. Clench of the fist from Federer as he walks to his chair. Albot to serve to take the match into a tiebreak. Roger Federer vs Radu Albot LIVE: Federer won the second set 7-5 Federer 4-6 5-5 Albot* Albot nets a backhand, 30-all. But Federer follows with his own error and then another forehand return mistake. *Federer 4-6 5-4 Albot Routine service game for Federer. He will want to put the heat on Albot in the next game. Federer 4-6 4-4 Albot* Albot ace makes it 30-0. But Federer pulls him back to 30 all. Break point Federer as Albot nets a forehand. But Albot stays calm and forces an error. And the Moldovan survives the scare to come through. He's played the big points so well. *Federer 4-6 4-3 Albot Ten unforced errors from Federer in this set. And it means Albot is having to do very little to stay with Federer. A Federer double fault makes it deuce. Then a wild Federer shot hands Albot break point. Relief for Federer as Albot goes wide with a makeable forehand. Federer ace. And there's a fist pump from Federer as he survives that scare after an Albot error. Federer 4-6 3-3 Albot* The errors from Federer's forehand side are killing him at the moment. And a backhand return goes long to keep the set on serve. Roger Federer vs Radu Albot LIVE: Federer was in trouble in the second set *Federer 4-6 3-2 Albot Still far from convincing from Federer but he closes out the game with a volley. It is hard work for the Swiss at the moment.<doc-sep>Roger Federer waves to the crowd after his match against Radu Albot at the Miami Open. Photo: USA Today<doc-sep>
The three-time Miami champion and the 4th seed Roger Federer was tested in the opening match at the second Masters 1000 event of the season, defeating Radu Albot 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in two hours and eight minutes for the 51st triumph at this event and the first at Hard Rock Stadium. Albot has been in great form this year and demonstrated that against Roger as well, saving six out of eight break points (four of those in the opening service game of the match) and staying on the similar level with a great rival almost all the time. Roger fired 14 aces and fended off three out of four break points, overcoming the first set deficit and prevailing in the finish of the second to bypass the second straight poor result in Miami after losing to Thanasi Kokkinakis a year ago. The Swiss finished the match with 38 winners and 41 unforced errors, unable to create the difference in the shortest points up to four strokes and deserving the triumph with the better performance in the mid-range and most extended rallies. There were worrying signs for Roger's fans in the very first game of the match when he netted a forehand to suffer a break that would determine the winner of the first part of the encounter. Albot was eager to keep the points on his racquet and make Federer run for his money, repelling four break points in game two to confirm the break and gain a lot of confidence before the rest of the clash. They both served well in the remaining eight games and it was Radu who fired three straight winners at 15-30 in the tenth game to secure the opener in 35 minutes, pushing Roger's backhand to the limits and hitting a lot of service winners to make a big step towards a huge surprise. Nothing could separate them in the first six games of the second set and Roger fended off a break point with a well-constructed attack in that seventh game, creating a chance of his own in the game that followed. Albot saved it with a serve&forehand combo that already gave him a lot of points and it looked the set will go into a tie break where all the pressure would have been on Roger's side of the net. Instead of that, the three-time Miami champion found the way to score the first break of the match with a volley winner at 6-5, gaining an enormous boost and extending his chances before the decider where he was the favorite now. Just like in set number two, Federer had to play against a break point at 3-3, landing an ace to get out of jail and testing Albot's mental strength in the next game. The Moldovan did almost everything right so far but this was the moment that plagued his chances, sending a forehand long to get broken and allowing Roger to move over the finish line with a service winner and a hold at 15 in game nine for the place in the last 32, avoiding the second consecutive second-round Miami loss.