Miami Open, FL, USA, ATP Masters 1000

[Moxie]

DATE: 27 Mar 2016 - 3 Apr 2016
SURFACE: HARD
PRIZE MONEY: $6,134,605
FIELD SIZE: 96
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Novak Djokovic

Seeds:
1. Novak Djokovic (SRB)
2. Andy Murray (GBR)
3. Roger Federer (SUI)
4. Stan Wawrinka (SUI)
5. Rafael Nadal (ESP)
6. David Ferrer (ESP)
7. Kei Nishikori (JPN)
8. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)
9. Tomas Berdych (CZE)
10. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
11. Richard Gasquet (FRA)
12. Milos Raonic (CAN)
13. John Isner (USA)
14. Marin Cilic (CRO)
15. Gilles Simon (FRA)
16. David Goffin (BEL)
17. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)
18. Gael Monfils (FRA)
19. Dominic Thiem (AUT)
20. Benoit Paire (FRA)
21.Viktor Troicki SRB 22
22. Jack Sock (USA)
23. Feliciano Lopez (ESP)
24. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)
25. Jeremy Chardy (FRA)
26. Steve Johnson (USA)
27. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)
28. Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR)
29. Joao Sousa (POR)
30. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP)
31. Pablo Cuevas (URU)
32. Andreas Seppi (ITA)

About Miami:

Greater Miami is the 4th largest metropolitan area in the US, and its only officially bilingual city (Spanish.) The influence of the Latin population is felt everywhere, and while largely Cuban, the last 20 years have seen an influx of immigrants from throughout Latin America. Lovely weather makes Miami a major center of tourism, but it is also a fashion hub, it has a lively cultural life, and is a major financial center. It has the largest concentration of international banks of any city in the US. Come for the stone crabs at Joe's; stay for the Cuban coffee.

 

[britbox]

Looks like a full strength field and Federer's return adds an extra dimension.

A good show in store.

 

[Bert]

What are your feelings about Federer ? Do you think he will be back 100% ? He has never done so well in Miami, I'm wondering what are his expectations : playing few matches before the clay season or does he really think that he can win it ?

 

[britbox]

What are your feelings about Federer ? Do you think he will be back 100% ? He has never done so well in Miami, I'm wondering what are his expectations : playing few matches before the clay season or does he really think that he can win it ?

10 years since Fed last won Miami!

Realistically, I think he'll just want to get some matches under his belt and take it from there. I can't see him winning the tournament but he might also have one eye on the points (I think he can retake #2 here if he has a half decent run. Not sure, but maybe one of the number crunchers can confirm). I don't think he's particularly bothered about the ranking for rankings sake... just that it makes his life easier when it comes to seedings and the draws.

 

[DarthFed]

I agree that Roger probably doesn't care too much about being #2 vs. #3 as far as sentimentality goes but he and everyone else knows it makes a big difference in regards to the draw. Being #2 means you don't get Nole until the final.

Miami is definitely not one of Roger's better tournaments. If he loses early here I wouldn't read much into it, whereas if he has a good run that'd be impressive and would show he's back and ready to go. So in that regard there isn't much to lose here as long as he isn't coming back too soon and risking re-injuring his knee.

 

[masterclass]

10 years since Fed last won Miami!

Realistically, I think he'll just want to get some matches under his belt and take it from there. I can't see him winning the tournament but he might also have one eye on the points (I think he can retake #2 here if he has a half decent run. Not sure, but maybe one of the number crunchers can confirm). I don't think he's particularly bothered about the ranking for rankings sake... just that it makes his life easier when it comes to seedings and the draws.

Correct, Baron Britbox..

Obviously, he feels good enough to compete. The rather slow Laykold conditions don't particularly favor him, but he probably sees a chance to pick up points.
Federer needs a 680 point swing to rise to #2.
Since Murray defends 600, and Federer 0, the swing is down to a mere 80 points.
Roger can rise to #2, If he makes the QF, and does better than Murray by at least 1 round, or makes the R16, and Murray exits in R64 as shown in the chart below.
.

 

[britbox]

Correct, Baron Britbox..

Obviously, he feels good enough to compete. The rather slow Laykold conditions don't particularly favor him, but he probably sees a chance to pick up points.
Federer needs a 680 point swing to rise to #2.
Since Murray defends 600, and Federer 0, Roger can rise to #2, If he makes the QF, and does better than Murray by 1 round.

Thanks @masterclass - good info, you couldn't have framed it better. Looking at the numbers, I'm guessing Roger probably doesn't reclaim #2 here, but it's likely only a matter of time. Do you know if Murray is playing Monte Carlo?

 

[masterclass]

@britbox, According to the schedule on his web site, after Miami, he will play at Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome prior to Roland Garros.

Roger only has Monte Carlo on his schedule prior to Roland Garros, for now... but it has been said that it's subject to change.

Respectfully,
masterclass

 

[britbox]

Thanks mc. I just checked that Murray didn't play Monte Carlo last year... so he may pick up points on Fed there. Fed lost to Monfils last year in Rd 3. We might see the #2 and #3 switching around a bit in the run up to Roland Garros.

 

[masterclass]

I believe the Miami main draw takes place in a little under 3 hours (12:30 PM, EDT). Stay tuned to their twitter page and they will probably show it live.

Respectfully,
masterclass

 

[britbox]

The draw will be streamed live here:

http://www.tennistv.com/live/?WT.mc_id=yt-live

 

[DarthFed]

It's true that Roger is only scheduled to play MC in the clay season before RG but since he missed a couple tournaments I'd imagine he will take a WC at Madrid or Rome. If Roger loses early in Miami and MC, which is possible given the surfaces and possible rust, that would not be enough match play going into RG.

 

[Moxie]

Presuming Del Potro gets past Guido Pella in his first round, he'll get Roger in the 2nd. At the moment, I'm not sure who that's worse luck for. Probably both.

 

[Denis]

Presuming Del Potro gets past Guido Pella in his first round, he'll get Roger in the 2nd. At the moment, I'm not sure who that's worse luck for. Probably both.

Del Porto will lose, tough luck for him. That's why it takes so fricking long to get back in the rankings.

 

[Denis]

Raonic scheduled to meet Rafa early in the draw.

Hope that happens and to see Carol's assessment of Raonic' level.

 

[masterclass]

 

[Moxie]

Del Porto will lose, tough luck for him. That's why it takes so fricking long to get back in the rankings.

I think so, too. But it's really bad luck. His 2nd round in IW was Berdych. And while Roger will probably win, I'll bet he'd have fancied and easier return opponent.

 

[Carol]

Raonic scheduled to meet Rafa early in the draw.

Hope that happens and to see Carol's assessment of Raonic' level.

Rafa has the most dificult draw so far but if Raonic plays like in the IW final then Rafa will be saved at that round

 

[Denis]

Rafa has the most dificult draw so far but if Raonic plays like in the IW final then Rafa will be saved at that round

Who is going to give him a tough time then? Bellucci? Mayer?

He is ranked number 5 which means he gets to face a top 4 player in the quarters. Guess who he got: his name is not Djokovic, Murray, or Federer.

 

[Carol]

Who is going to give him a tough time then? Bellucci? Mayer?

He is ranked number 5 which means he gets to face a top 4 player in the quarters. Guess who he got: his name is not Djokovic, Murray, or Federer.

He has Sock or Raonic, then Wawrinka or Isner or maybe Kyrgios and then Muzz or Nishi........very easy....yeah....
Federer? after a surgery knee and surprisingly playing so early? what do you think how far he will be and having to play first against Delpo who has been long time out of the courts but at least has played a couple of tournaments and training for long time before? I wouldn't count to much on him.